Sports Groove

...20 players in Super Eagles nest    By Maxwell Kumoye   Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, stepped up preparations on Monday evening ahead of their highly anticipated 2026 Unity Cup opener against the Warriors in London. The Eagles trained at Charlton Athletic’s famous stadium, The Valley, with Head Coach Eric Chelle overseeing an intense session involving 20 players as Nigeria fine-tuned strategies for Tuesday’s showdown. Leading the session was returning striker Terem Moffi, whose presence added energy and experience to a youthful squad assembled for the invitational tournament. Goalkeepers Francis Uzoho, Arthur Okonkwo and Michael Atata were all involved, alongside defenders Igoh Ogbu, Chibuike Nwaiwu and Tijani Al Ameen. The midfield featured exciting young talents such as Tochukwu Nnadi, Alhassan Yusuf and Samson Tijani, while the attack boasted options including Philip Otele, Rafiu Durosinmi and Femi Azeez. Tuesday’s clash is expected to...

By Maxwell Kumoye          The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ), has ushered in a new era in its administration with the appointment of Charles Chivwela Chakatazya as the association’s new General Secretary. FAZ confirmed the development on Monday, announcing that Chakatazya will take over the influential administrative role following the departure of Machacha Shapande, who parted ways with Football House on mutual consent. In another key appointment, Iva Lengwe Mumba has been confirmed as Deputy General Secretary as the association looks to strengthen its leadership structure and improve the running of football affairs in the country. The changes come at an important period for Zambian football, with FAZ expected to focus on improving domestic competitions, national team organization and overall football development. Chakatazya now faces the task of steering the day-to-day administration of the association while working closely with FAZ leadersh...

...Showing sharp improvement with every race, peaking at the right time – AFN 2nd Vice President, Aghazu  ...Hails Ogazi’s meteoric rise as 20-year-old Nigerian quarter-miler blazes through 2026 season By Maxwell Kumoye       World record holder Tobi Amusan is beginning to hit top gear at exactly the right time, showing steady improvement with every outing this season as she builds momentum towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland in July. The Nigerian sprint hurdles queen has gradually sharpened her form across three major competitions, underlining her growing confidence and race fitness after an inconsistent start to the year. Amusan opened her recent run with a modest 12.83 seconds performance at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships, a time that hinted she was still finding rhythm and adjusting into full competitive mode. However, the signs of progress quickly became evident on the elite Diamond League circuit.  She dropped her t...

Upon preliminary investigation into serious claims of physical and psychological abuse, the Romanian Gymnastics Federation this week temporarily suspended the legendary national elite coach for more than three decades. The Executive Committee of the Romanian Gymnastics Federation formally announced the immediate full suspension of Camelia Voinea from any activity carried out under the federation's umbrella, as the Disciplinary Commission concluded that the multiple allegations of mistreatment levelled against her are so serious that they go beyond the sporting sphere and require a criminal investigation by the competent state authorities. In response, the body has frozen its own internal sporting proceedings and handed the case entirely to Romania's ordinary justice system. The inquiry gathered momentum after public statements made by elite gymnast Denisa Golgotă, followed by accounts from other national-team athletes, including Mara Ceplinschi and Anamaria Mihaescu...

Despite still having more than two months to go, the world's premier phygital contest is launching the ticketing process. With a more affordable Early Bird option, packages are available starting at $8.50 (€7.3), as well as flexible Standard Day Passes. The Games of the Future 2026 are heading to Kazakhstan's capital this summer, and tickets have officially been on sale since Wednesday. The first release is now available for fans eager to lock in a place at what is widely being billed as one of the most anticipated modern sporting events of the season in Astana. Drawing over 800 attendees from more than 50 different nations, including many of the world's leading esports and hybrid teams and athletes, GOTF 2026 will turn the Central Asian metropolis into a worldwide platform for the sport of tomorrow from 29 July to 9 August. Across 12 days of elite esports and hybrid competition, teams from around the world will battle for a multi-million-dollar prize pool, alon...

The US president is threatening to withhold federal funding from universities that refuse new eligibility rules, in a bid to rein in spending on football and basketball and preserve support for Olympic sports. Donald Trump has once again accelerated a debate that has spilled far beyond university campuses, now echoing through courtrooms, state legislatures, and the corridors of Washington: who truly governs collegiate sport, and by what rules. On Wednesday, he renewed his call for Congress to intervene and pass federal legislation capable of 'bringing order' to the system, convinced that the current model has degenerated into an unregulated expanse. At the heart of his concern lie the loosely governed payments tied to Name, Image and Likeness, alongside the increasingly fluid transfer freedoms afforded to student-athletes. His warning, framed in near-patriotic terms, was that the US "will no longer have a decent Olympic team" unless new regulations are imp...

The four-time Olympian from Spain confirmed his candidacy for the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s top seat this week with elections due 11 June in Salzburg in which he expects to succeed Ivo Ferriani after 16 years at the helm. Already considered a national pioneer in the discipline, Ander Mirambell is preparing for another major step in a career shaped by perseverance, growth and the development of a sport that was virtually non-existent in Spain before he took to the sliding track. The 43-year-old announced his candidacy for next month's vote during the organisation's Congress in Austria and the news was first reported by local newspaper MARCA, which also confirmed that the Spaniard will contest the position against Latvia's Martins Dambergs, current vice president for legal affairs at the IBSF; Germany's Heike Groesswang, secretary general of the organisation; and Jamaica's Nelson Christian Stokes, a four-time Olympic bobsleigh athle...

Global sports is not complete without the participation of athletes from the IOC-banned country and ally Belarus, the sports minister and ROC president asserted Tuesday while welcoming the return of national symbols across global federations. Speaking at a high-profile meeting of Russia's State Council Commission on Physical Culture and Sports, Mikhail Degtyarev contextualized the expanding sequence of international governing bodies recently dismantling their restrictive participation policies. The International Olympic Committee originally sanctioned both countries in 2022, afer Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine, where war is ongoing, with Belarus' backing, and their athletes were forced to participate as neutrals in the Paris 2024 Summer Games and Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. World Gymnastics became the first federation to readmit Russia this week, a decision that came barely a month after the IOC advised international federations to readmit Belarus. Howeve...

The basketball icon and newly-appointed chair of the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission addressed Milano Cortina's Ukrainian tribute helmet controversy and gender eligibility among other topics during a recent Forbes interview.   Pau Gasol needs no introduction in the world of sports. He rarely fails to make a name for himself, at least when basketball comes up in conversation. And if there's one thing that sets him apart, it's that he's navigated his career exceptionally well since retiring from his home team, FC Barcelona, in the post-pandemic era of 2021.  A legend on the court, he has begun to cement a promising career off it as well: on 3 August 2021, he was elected to the International Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission and was named its president this February, the first Spaniard to lead one of the key bodies of the Olympic Movement since its creation in 1981 under the leadership of the late Juan Antonio Samar...

At the 'Development of International Sports Cooperation' conference in Moscow from 20-23 May, Pavel Rozhkov, head of the Russian Paralympic Committee, announced that the organisation is considering joining the Asian Paralympic family. Rozhkov spoke about diplomatic relations with the International Paralympic Committee and other Paralympic committees during the conference and mentioned the importance of the fact that 40 countries had arrived at the conference, stating that the fact that they "were not afraid and joined us speaks volumes". During his speech, Rozhkov also spoke about the RPC's return to the International Paralympic Committee. In September 2025, the IPC General Assembly in Seoul voted not to maintain the suspension, which had been imposed on Russian sport following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. While the IPC restored the Russian body's rights within the Paralympic movement, Rozhkov claims that certain countries are attempting to exc...

Several international federations that run official competitions in team disciplines are allowing the Eurasian giant's sides to compete abroad, Russian Paralympic Committee President Pavel Rozhkov said on Wednesday during a forum held in Moscow. Rozhkov linked that opening to the attempt to rebuild Russia's international presence in Paralympic sport, especially in team disciplines, where participation depends not only on individual authorisations but also on national teams being able to enter official competitions and qualifying pathways. In remarks reported by the TASS news agency during a round table at the 'National Health - Prosperity of Russia' forum, Rozhkov said that process had already begun, although still under limited conditions. "The progress is underway. The federations that supervise [Paralympic] team competitions have begun to allow our teams to participate in their official international competitions. Without a flag, without an anthem, b...

The organisation's Ordinary Congress was held during the Asian Weightlifting Championships in Gandhinagar, chaired by President Mohammed Yousef Al Mana and Secretary General Mohammed Al Harbi, with VP and IWF leader Mohammed Jalood also attending. One of the key items on the Asian Weightlifting Federation's agenda in India was the adoption of the new Constitution, as the previous one expired in 2024. The proposed draft constitution included several controversial articles, such as the removal of age limits for the president, general secretary and executive board members, and provisions for financial transparency and compliance with International Weightlifting Federation laws. Some members suggested postponing the adoption of the Constitution and first seeking the IWF's approval of the proposed amendments. According to the AWF's report, the proposed amendments were first discussed at an Executive Board meeting earlier that day. However, the constitution was no...

Last year's Games of the Future in Abu Dhabi, the UAE's first large-scale hybrid, phygital mega-event, has recently collected two significant international industry awards, further strengthening the capital city's growing reputation. The event received Gold Awards in the categories of Hybrid Event and Esports Event, recognising both its bold fusion of physical sport with immersive digital competition and the scale and quality of its top-tier gaming tournaments, featuring titles such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Fortnite. These awards highlight the success and international reach of Games of the Future Abu Dhabi 2025, which brought phygital sport to the Middle East on an unprecedented scale. Staged across the majestic ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, the event featured 11 high-energy disciplines spanning esports, traditional sport, robotics, drone racing and virtual reality, supported by a forward-leaning broadcast model built for both in-...

The German capital took a decisive step Thursday towards hosting the Summer Games of 2036, 2040 or 2044, after the house of representatives backed a project now cleared to enter the national selection process alongside Munich, Hamburg and Rhine-Ruhr. The political agreement passed with the votes of the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party, the two parties in the governing coalition, and with additional support from Alternative for Germany, while The Greens and The Left voted against. The vote, held by a show of hands after a debate lasting around 90 minutes, authorises the senate to submit the Berlin+ concept to the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) as part of an internal process in which Munich, Hamburg and the Rhine-Ruhr region are also competing. The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Kai Wegner, defended the proposal as an opportunity for urban transformation and international projection for a city that aims to organise the Games exactly a century...

President Antonio Silva and Vice President Erkan Yalcin visited training facilities across Kyiv, Lviv, and Odessa. The governing body vowed continued support for the nation’s elite programmes and resilient sports infrastructure. Across a series of working meetings, competitive events, and high-level training centre inspections, the European Aquatics' delegation met with federation leaders and government representatives who continue to protect and develop aquatic sports despite the many institutional challenges the ongoing war with Russia present. "Having the chance to acquaint myself with the living conditions and the reality in which aquatic sports continue to develop in Ukraine was both moving and inspiring," stated Silva. "I have seen extraordinary resilience, dedication and unity from everyone involved in our sport. European Aquatics stands firmly alongside our Ukrainian colleagues and athletes, and we remain committed to supporting them and helping b...

A survey by Piepoli and WePlan published this week found that 77% of nationals believe the Winter Olympics improved the country's international image, while two-thirds followed the event regularly and recognised its positive economic impact. Piepoli is a research institute, while WePlan specialises in legacy strategies for mega-events and together, they produced a report suggesting that the Olympic Games enjoyed broad support among Italians. Their data show that public engagement was extremely high — higher even than some forecasts made in the weeks beforehand — with 66% of Italians actively following daily coverage and developments. Respondents also expressed strong support regarding the organisation of the event, both before and during it, with 72% reporting a positive overall impression. The memories of the event are still fresh, and the data indicates that 79% of respondents backed the Milano Cortina model, seeing what took place in February as a possible example fo...

Meeting the highest international benchmarks for durability, the corporate contests organised by the International Olympic Committee were re-certified under the updated ISO 20121:2024 guideline this week. The IOC's certification applies to the corporate events it organises and funds directly, including IOC Sessions, commission meetings, Olympic Day events, the International Athletes' Forum, and other institutional conferences and gatherings. "We are proud to have achieved re-certification under ISO 20121:2024," commented Panos Tzivanidis, the IOC's director of Corporate Events and Services. "This certification recognises the progress we have made in reducing the emissions linked to our events, strengthening our collaboration with suppliers, and placing greater emphasis on social responsibility in event delivery," he added. The re-certification reflects advances made since the IOC's initial certification in 2023 across three main areas: re...

The Australian Olympic Committee has visited over 4,000 schools nationwide to promote values and motivate students to achieve their goals, with the support of 460 accomplished athletes who serve as role models. Athletes such as Nina Kennedy, Danielle Scott, Matthew Glaetzer, Keesja Gofers, Jessica Stenson, Bree Walker and Elise Kellond-Knight have visited schools in Kununurra, Broken Hill, Lightning Ridge, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Thursday Island, Longreach, Rockhampton, Mount Isa, Mount Gambier, Ceduna, the Pilbara, Margaret River and Bremer Bay. Created in 2018, the Olympics Unleashed project involves bringing Olympic athletes back to schools — some even to the very schools they once attended — to share what they have learnt throughout their sporting careers. This allows young people to relate to the athletes and be inspired by their legacy. The aim is to show students that they can achieve great things regardless of their background. For many athlet...

Following a joint decision with the Aquatics Integrity Unit, swimmers from both countries will be allowed to compete in international events under the same conditions as other athletes, provided they pass at least four consecutive anti-doping tests. The World Aquatics Athletes' Committee also took part in the decision-making process and, following deliberations, the guidelines governing athlete participation in aquatic events during periods of political conflict ceased to apply to senior athletes from both countries. The policy shift comes after the governing body restored the same conditions enjoyed by athletes of other sporting nationalities, allowing them to compete with their respective uniforms, flags and national anthems, something that had already previously been granted to junior athletes. "Over the last three years, World Aquatics and the AQIU have successfully ensured that conflict remains outside sporting venues. We are determined to make sure that swimm...

French Open Director Amélie Mauresmo categorically confirmed on Thursday that the reward standards will remain unchanged for this year's edition of the marquee tennis tournament, dismissing rising protests from top tour stars. The buzz started at the beginning of the month but the complaint has been brewing for some time now and grown louder as the Paris event neared. However, rumors were put to rest this week when, during the draw for Roland Garrros, which is already in its qualifying phase, Mauresmo stated firmly, "No, we're not going to change anything"; though she added that officials are open to future discussions with the players' union, the Professional Tennis Players Association, a body founded in 2020 by current World-ranked number four player Novak Djokovic -who left earlier this year-, and former pro Vasek Pospisil. In fact, it was confirmed that the all-time great Djokovic decided to stay on the sidelines and did not sign the latest joint s...