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