Slain Ghana Journalist Honored By AIPS

(ATR) Murdered less than a week ago, a journalist who helped expose rampant corruption in Ghana football is honored with his colleagues for their award winning investigation.

Ahmad Husein was part of a team of Ghanaian writers and reporters who received the award for best investigative reporting at the inaugural Association of International Sports Press Media Awards.

Husein was gunned down January 16 in Accra. No suspects have been arrested. Anas Anas, producer of a documentary on the scandal in Ghana recognized Hussein’s sacrifice and says it will not silence the work of his colleagues.

"We will never surrender because journalism is not a crime," Anas said at the ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Anas led the audience of IOC members, federation leaders and sports journalists in a moment of silence for his murdered colleague, followed by a hearty round of applause for Husein.

The awards ceremony at the posh Beau Rivage Hotel honored journalists from around the world in 10 categories across audio, video, photography and writing. The event was carried live on Facebook and AFP.

Veteran Austrian TV journalist Michael Kuhn received a lifetime achievement award.

Top prize winners received $8000 .

The 75- minute ceremony included IOC members as award presenters, President Thomas Bach among them. The winners were the culmination of a judging process that started with1273 entries from 119 countries. Great Britain jumps great turned TV presenter Jonathan Edwards emceed the event.

The Media Awards open a week in Lausanne for the annual AIPS Convention, which gets underway Tuesday in the Olympic capital. It's the 82nd congress for the organization which is recognized by the IOC. Gianni Merlo is the president.

IOC President Thomas Bach, IOC member Faisal Al Hussein, FINA President Julio Maglione and judo fed president Marius Vizer were among the presenters.

More than 200 AIPS delegates are taking part in the congresss which runs through Jan.25.

First placewinners are listed below by category.

Photography - sport action

Vincent Riemersma, Skating Shadows, PZC (Netherlands)

Photography - portfolio

Adam Pretty, Budapest World Swimming Championships, Getty Images (Germany)

Writing - best column

Igor Rabiner, The Athletes or the Slaves? Rabiner Against of Boycotting Olympics, Sport-Express (Russia)

Writing - best color piece

José Ignacio Pérez Hernández, "Yo jugué al fútbol en Auschwitz" ("I played football in Auschwitz"), MARCA (Spain)

Video - Documentary

Emanuela Audisio, 1968 - Sport & Revolution, 3D Produzioni (Italy)

Video - Athlete Profile

Diego Hurtado De Mendoza / Gregg Groggel / Peter Berg, The People’s Fighters: Teofilo Stevenson and the Legend of Cuban Boxing, Olympic Channel (Spain)

Audio

Pirmin Styrnol, Horst Eckel - Für immer ein Held von Bern (Horst Eckel - Forever a hero of Bern), SWR2 (Germany)

Journalistic Weblog

Yin Ma, Exclusive! A Wechat log between two legendary women, Lang Ping and Li Yan, highlighting their resilience, We Love Volley (China)

Reported by Ed Hula.