All Africa Games Slammed; Madrid, Tokyo Name 2020 Bid Leaders

The ATR Olympic Newsdesk

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Poor Marks for All Africa Games

At least one country is not happy about the quality of the All Africa Games underway in Maputo, Mozambique.

Sani Ndanusa, president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, was quoted by his country's media as saying the Games so far have not been of a very high standard.

"We’ve been holding a series of meetings and all the countries are complaining of one thing or the other," he said.

"It is sad. Where do I start to assess the Games?"

His chef de mission at the Games agreed.

"I thought I was coming here to apply my experience and make things work," Alhassan Yakmut said.

"There is no way you can apply anything here. They make you adapt to their own things".

Yakmut did not blame the Games organizers, however.

"Mozambique is not to be blamed. They came into the frame two years ago when Zambia pulled out and I think that two years is not enough to meet up with all the facilities and arrangements for the All Africa Games."

Around the Rings understands that Africa’s Olympic Committee chiefs were upset over several issues related to the Games, including the fact that athletes cannot qualify for the Olympics at the All Africa Games because the event is not organized by ANOCA, the umbrella organization for the Olympics in Africa. It's instead organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, which represents sports ministers, not National Olympic Committees.

Gambian IOC member Beatrice Allen said in an email to ATR the issue of ANOCA staging the Games was discussed "superficially" at the ANOCA general assembly last week in Maputo.

"The NOC Presidents have categorically informed the GA that the African Games for qualification to the Olympic Games (Rio 2016 and in the future) must be handled by ANOCA. This is because the SCSA cannot satisfy the needs of ANOCA in ensuring that the Olympic sports are included in the games," Allen wrote.

"Furthermore, ANOCA is not a party to decisions made in the selection of venues and sports for the AA Games. But, the Olympic Movement contributes a lot of resources into the AAGames. It was confirmed that ANOCA and the SCSA will meet before theend of the Games in Maputo to discuss the issue."

Competition runs until Sept. 17.

South Africa is leading the medal tally with 26 total, 20 of them gold. Tunisia is second on the list with 21 medals.

Madrid, Toko 2020 Chiefs

Alejandro Blanco, the President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, will lead the Madrid 2020 bid.

According to a statement posted on the committee's website, Blanco was appointed to the post Thursday by Madrid mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon.

Gallardon led Madrid's 2016 and 2012 bids. He said it's important to have a sportsman and not a politician leading the bid this time around.

Tokyo, meanwhile, also unveiled its 2020 leadership this week. The Japanese Olympic Committee saysTokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara will helm the bid committee with JOC presidentTsunekazu Takeda running its day-to-day operations and vice chairmanMasato Mizuno pitching in on the business end as CEO.

Mizuno resigned Monday as chairman of the sporting goods company of the samename to avoid a conflict of interest similar to the one that kept him from heading Tokyo's failed 2016 bid.

Violence Continues in Pacified Favela

Violence continued late Wednesday as police fought a drug gang in a pacified slum in Rio de Janeiro.

Media reports say reinforcements were called in to help restore order to the Alemao favela. More than 1,500 police and several armored vehicles are patrolling the complex, the Associated Press reports.

The favela sits next to a highway leading to the international airport.

Government officials have said pacifying and eradicating the favelas, infamous for rampant violence and poverty, is one of the key social legacies of the Games.

Media reports say a 15-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet on the way to school, but police denied that anyone has died.

Reducing crime for the 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup are top priorities for the city.

Alemao was pacified last year.

Rogers Out of 2014, 2016 Broadcast Bid

Rogers, one of the partners in the consortium that broadcast the 2010 Winter Olympics in Canada, says it won't bid for the 2014 or 2016 broadcasting rights.

Speaking to The Canadian Press,Keith Pelley, president of Rogers' media division, says the Games conflict with two of its prime properties.

Putting the Olympics in prime time "falls dead into the middle of the Blue Jays season and the middle of Rogers Cup Tennis," he said.

"When we looked ahead at Rio, again you are going to have the same challenge in terms of scheduling. Even though we have two networks, still, now you need three that are going to broadcast sports."

Gold Medalist Allegedly Assaults Taxi Driver

Olympic champion Paul Hamm is accused of attacking a taxi driver in Columbus, Ohio.

The Associated Press reports the gymnast allegedly hit and kicked the driver, damaged the taxi’s window and refused to pay a $23 fare.

Hamm, who is the assistant gymnastics coach at Ohio State University, was picked up by cab driver Abdinasir Elmi at about 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, according to media reports. The 28-year-old passed out on the way to his residence and when the driverwoke him up, Hamm refused to pay his fare.

The driver said that as he tried to help Hamm out of the locked car, the Olympian punched him and climbed out the window, falling to the ground.

"We have read about the unfortunate situation involving Paul Hamm in media reports, and we are certainly concerned for Paul," USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny said in the AP article.

Penny added, "USA Gymnastics will wait for more information before commenting further."

The three-time medalist is currently training for the London Olympics and recuperating from a shoulder surgery. Hamm competed in the Games in 2000 and 2004, but missed the Olympics in Beijing due to an injury.

He was charged on Saturday and is waiting for an arraignment on Sept. 15, according to online court records.

Written by Ann Cantrell.