All Africa Games Accusation; Russia, New Zealand Cozy Up

More All Africa Games Criticism

A top official with the Nigerian Olympic Committee is reinforcing his president’s viewpoint on the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

Speaking with local media, Jonathan Nnaji says the Games are not indicative of any country’s standing in the sports world.

"No country can use Maputo 2011 to determine its position in Africa," he said.

"A situation where the host country handpicked events and left out vital ones is quite unfortunate. Weightlifting, wrestling, power lifting events are not included. These are vital sports that the Olympics cannot do without. I wonder the kind of All Africa Games they are staging. We are not talking about the fate of Nigeria here. This is not good for the development of sports in Africa as a whole."

At the time of writing, Nigeria is fifth in the medal tally with 19 medals, Mozambique is 14th with five. South Africa is number one with 103 medals, nearly three times as many as Algeria in second place with 37.

Nnaji asserted that once ANOCA, the African Olympic Committees umbrella group, assumes control of staging the Games in 2015, the All Africa Games will have a higher standard of quality.

Own the Podium Search

Canadian Olympic chiefs will meet Monday to determine how to find a replacement CEO.

"We’ll discuss potential and options for carrying on," former VANOC chief and current OTP chairman John Furlong told Toronto's The Globe and Mail."It’s quite possible we’ll take an interim decision, [then] talk about what happens after [the 2012 Summer Games in] London."

The paper reports some of the possible leaders for the program, designed to increase the number of Canadian medalists at the Games, including Olympic skier and well-known ski coach Ken Read as well as former Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Jean Dupre.

Alex Baumann, the current OTP leader, stepped down last week due to health concerns.

Arab Games Coordination

The Union of Arab National Olympic Committees inspected 2011 Arab Games hosts Qatar and pledged an "exceptional" event will take place in 86 days.

In a statement on the Doha 2011 organizing committee’s website, both organizations pledged "an exceptional Arab Games, to be free of mistakes, difficulties and full with achievements and glory."

Meetings took place at Qatar Olympic Committee headquarters.

QOC secretary general Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said 22 Arab countries confirmed their attendance at the Games.

More than 12,000 people will participate in the Games, organizers claim.

Russia, New Zealand Sign MOU

The New Zealand Olympic Committee’s new Memorandum of Understanding with Russia will benefit sport and business, the NZOC says.

NZOC president Mike Stanley signed the agreement Monday with his Russian counterpart Alexander Zhukov.

"We are looking at access for New Zealand athletes to accommodation and training facilities at the Russian Winter Olympic Training Centre in Russia and access to coaching and performance expertise," Stanley said in a statement posted on the NZOC website.

"We were also delighted at the commitment from Mr. Zhukov to providing assistance and expertise in the development of a New Zealand House in Sochi for the Olympic Games in 2014."

"The signing of the MOU creates a significant base for the promotion of joint cooperation," added Zhukov.

According to the NZOC, the MOU also provides "access to influential business contacts for New Zealanders wishing to do business in Russia."

Zhukov was in New Zealand for Russia’s first-ever Rugby World Cup match.

Written by Ed Hula III.