Athletics Africa Magazine

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has awarded the exclusive terrestrial television, and non-exclusive radio and mobile platform broadcast rights in Sub-Saharan Africa for the London 2012 Olympic Games to Octagon . IOC President Jacques Rogge said, “We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Octagon and look forward to working with them over the coming months to ensure a comprehensive broadcast of the Games in the region.” IOC Executive Board member, Richard Carrión , who led the negotiations, said, “This is a new approach for broadcast rights in this region for the IOC. Our new partner Octagon has acquired the rights and will now begin to look for broadcast partners, who will be able to utilise a broadcast feed tailored for Sub-Saharan African viewers. "We will be working closely with Octagon to ensure that the widest possible audience has access to the London 2012 Olympic Games.” Qondisa Ngwenya , MD Octagon Africa, explained, “Octagon Africa is ex...

The Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) has formally announced the launch of their new website  in time for next year's Olympics.  The NOC yesterday said the site was developed for the committee by Faze Internet Ltd, a UK based internet company. The company will also ensure day-to-day maintenance and further development of the site. Elated by the development, NOC President, Engineer Sani Ndanusa said:  “We asked for a web presence that would benefit our many stakeholders and one that might also grow with us as an organisation over the coming years. "What you see now is the first stage which gives us the opportunity to showcase the sponsors we are soon to announce and new and interesting stories on our athletes. "In the coming months our web portal will back-up our social media communications and be the centre of some exciting audio and video content.” For the NOC Secretary-General, Tunde Popoola, the site will give sports fans ample opportunity to follow the act...

CSP Sunday Bada The Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) , Chief Superintendent of Police Sunday Bada has died at the age of 42 after he slumped at the National Stadium in Lagos on Monday evening. According to the IAAF Council Member, Maria Wophill, who's also the Secretary General of the AFN, "It is with deepest sadness, that we announce the sudden death of our amiable Technical Director, Chief Sunday Bada, CSP (MON) Who passed on to glory on 12/12/2011." Sunday Bada won three medals at World Indoor Championships, including a Gold medal at Paris 1997 . He also won silver medals at the 1993 (Toronto) and 1995 (Barcelona) competitions CSP Bada was also part of the Nigerian 4x400m relay quartet that won the silver medal behind the United States at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, but was later elevated to Gold medal after two of the American athletes failed dope tests. Nigeria established a national record time of 2 minutes and 58.68 secon...

London 2012 Olympic Park The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) today reduced the qualifying standards in six event disciplines for athletes aiming to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games in London next summer. The events are the 400m (Men & Women) and 400m Hurdles, 5000m, Javelin Throw & Shot Put for Women. An IAAF statement reads: Following a study on the approved Qualification Standards for the Athletics Competitions of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012 (3 to 12 Aug), the requirements in six event disciplines have been eased. The London 2012 Qualification Standards, originally approved by the IAAF Council in April 2011, were reviewed by the Technical Delegates on the basis of the results of the 2011 IAAF World Championships, Daegu, Korea (27 Aug to 4 Sep), and the overall 2011 world season lists, with adjustments made to help ensure that the correct number of athletes will be entered in each event for next year’s Olympic ...

Courtesy IOC The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has unveiled “Show Your Best”, an integrated communications campaign inviting people around the world to demonstrate their best. Entrants will be given the chance to be part of a global Olympic TV spot and to win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games, as well as a host of other prizes. To see the initiative, go to: www.olympic.org/showyourbest Timo Lumme, Managing Director of IOC Television & Marketing Services, said: “We wanted to create a campaign that would reach and engage young people – by building a correlation between “Olympic best” and everyone’s personal best. Not everyone can be an Olympic athlete, but everyone can strive to be their best at something. This campaign celebrates that effort.” The IOC is working with Olympic broadcast partners worldwide to promote the initiative through a broadcast spot depicting some of the greatest Olympic moments of all time. Complementing these iconic performan...

Everyone's personal best is worth celebrating, no matter what it is. Show Your Best and you could win a trip to the London 2012 Olympic Games

MAPUTO (MOZ, Sep 15): Nigeria was the best country in athletics at All-African Games with 21 medals (10-6-5). Second Ethiopia 6-7-7 and third Kenya 5-5-7. In total 22 countries won medals in athletics. During last day the most sensational win was by Kenyan in javelin. Julius Yego improved the national record with 78.34 m. Kenyans also won the 4x400 m in 3:03.10. Caleb Ndiku was the best in the 1500 m (3:39.12) ahead of Collins Cheboi 3:39.72. But in 5000 m Uganda celebrated as Moses Kipsiro won in 13:43.08 ahead of Ethiopian Yenew Alamirew 13:43.33. In half-marathon Ethiopia ruled. Desisa Lelisa 1:04:31 was the best and and in women race Mare Dibaba 1:10:47 ahead of Mamitu Daska 1:10:52. Irene Jelegat won the 1500 m for Kenya in 4:13.67. Nigeria won three golds. Oludamola Osayomi was the best in the 200 m (22.86, +1.9), Ajoke Odumosu in the 400 m hurdles (56.26) and the relay team clocked 3:31.21 to win. Mohamed Younis cleared 225 national record to win the high jump, Luvo ...

DAEGU (KOR): The 2011 IAAF World Championships, Daegu 2011 are the third occasion that the IAAF has employed an Injuries and Illnesses Surveillance study at the biennial World Championships, which is the pinnacle competition of the IAAF World Athletics Series of events. The injury prevention study which is in line with the IOC Medical Commission’s own efforts was first put into place during the 11th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Osaka 2007 and was repeated in Berlin 2009. Surveillances have also been done in 9 other IAAF competitions including editions of the World Indoors, World Junior and World Youth Championships. It is of great importance to learn more about athletes´ injuries and illnesses incurred during the period of the Championships especially when we learn that nearly 10 out of each 100 competing athletes suffered a sport injury during both Osaka 2007 and Berlin 2009. Furthermore, close to 7 out of each 100 competing athletes suffered an illness during Ber...

SOUTH AFRICA : Caster Semenya's manager says the global 800m champion will only defend her title in Daegu, South Korea next week if she can handle the emotional difficulties with which she is faced. “It's whether she handles the emotion that will determine how she does,” Jukka Harkonen was quoted. USA: US top sprinter Walter Dix is ready to challenge Usain Bolt and other Jamaican sprinters. “I’m enjoying myself in Korea,” he said. “My goal is to win in the 100, 200, and 4x100-meter relay to come out with triple golds, a triple crown and that’s what I’m focusing on,” Korean media are saying. ETHIOPIA: “I’m ready for the challenge and looking forward to it,” Kenenisa Bekele said while travelling to Daegu from Seoul. Dressed in a designer brown jacket and jeans, the usually reclusive Kenenisa would not be drawn to speculate on his chances, only waiting for the men 10000m final where he is seeking a fifth straight crown. Informs capitalfm.co.ke. JAMAICA: Defending champi...

Doreen Amata-Igbokwe - Nigerian high Jumper Nigeria and reigning All Africa Games high jump queen, Doreen Amata-Igbokwe, soared into a new 1.95m season's best at the 33rd Eberstadt High Jump meet, a European Athletics Outdoor Permit event in Germany on Saturday and revealed her target is to break the 2m barrier which no Nigerian high jumper has ever achieved. The mother of one who last month reclaimed the national high jump title she lost without a fight last year due to procreation also by her feat in Germany equalled the three year-old national record she set in Abuja on July 3,2008. “I’m really delighted that everything is coming into place for me. I have been training very hard and I believe I will join the league of 2m jumpers very soon,” revealed an ecstatic Amata yesterday after she returned to her base in Italy. “I believe in my ability and I am definite this year will be the year I will break that barrier. It is top of my wish-list for the year and God is already...

Ethiopian Gudisa Shentema wins 2011 Hamburg Marathon HAMBURG (GER, May 22): Ethiopian Gudisa Shentema has won the 2011 Hamburg Marathon clocking 2:11:03 ahead of Kipsang Kipkemboi 2:11:18 and Johnston Maiyo 2:11:27, with Bellor Yator fourth in 2:11:30. Fatuma Sado Dergo of Ethiopia debuted in 2:28:30 and was the best woman in 20 degrees warm weather. Second was 18-years old Halima Hassen of Ethiopia 2:32:42 (PB)and third was Kenyan Joyce Kandie (2:33:05). KASSEL (GER, May 22): Kenyan wins at Kassel Marathon. Julius Mariuki with 2:13:00 and Jacqueline Nytepi 2:40:01. RIGA (LAT, May 22): Kenyan Julius Kuto won the Riga Marathon with 2:15:48. Best woman was Ethiopian Desta Girma 2:37:15. NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan athletes want Athletics Kenya to set up a counseling and investments advisory body to help upcoming runners to manage their earnings. Boston marathon champion Moses Tanui is one of many athletes who have spoken up to urge the Kenyan federation to take responsibility of ...

LIMA (PER, May 15): Kenyan Peter Lemaiyan clocked new course record at Lima Marathon in 2:16:57. Second home runner Miguel Mallqui also won the South American Marathon title in 2:17:12. Third Brazilian Antonio Pereira 2:19:43. LEIDEN (NED, May 15): At Leiden Marathon 2011, there was wins for Moroccan Abdelkrim Boubker in 2:14:40 and Ethiopian Marshet Jimma 2:39:08. New course record in half-marathon by Nathaniel Kipkosgei 1:01:25 ahead of Kennedy Kimutai 1:01:30. Women winner Moroccan Sofiya Labani 1:12:56. In the 10 km another course record for Josephine Kimuyu (32:09), male winner Gadengoi Loitareng, both of Kenya achieved 28:44. SAN SEBASTIAN (ESP, May 15): Moroccan Abdellah Taghrafet won the San Sebastian half-marathon in 1:02:05 over his country-mate Hassan Ahouchar 1:02:55. Kenyan Beatrice Jepchumba was the best woman (1:15:21). SAN FRANCISCO (USA, May 15): Ridouane Harroufi of Morocco won the 100th annual Zazzle Bay to Breakers 12K, one of the world’s largest and oldest fo...

The 10th African Junior Championships, GABORONE, Botswana. AJC Botswana 2011 - Full Results - May 12 -15, 2011 Decathlon Men Time :15:37 Heat:1 1 102 Ahmad Saber Ahmad 92 EGY 6776 2 326 Jason Roux 92 RSA 6416 3 43 Ghobe Khanda 92 BOT 5886 Heptathlon Women Time :00:00 Heat:1 1 375 Labiche Lissa 93 SEY 2946 2 112 Haris Radwa Faty 92 EGY 2918 3 286 Francis Kemi 93 NGR 2791 4 110 Hamid Wedian Mokhtar Abde 92 EGY 2786 5 322 Inge Viljoen 92 RSA 2590 6 60 Majore Chedza 94 BOT 1507 Pole Vault Women Final Time :15:24 Heat:1 1 438 Mahfoudhi Dorra 93 TUN 3.40 2 328 Jeanne Van Dyk 92 RSA 3.35 2 341 Mariska Smit 92 RSA 3.35 100m Men Decathlon Time :08:39 Heat:1 Wind : 0.1 1 43 Ghobe Khanda 92 BOT 11.14 830 P 2 102 Ahmad Saber Ahmad 92 EGY 11.17 823 P 3 ...