by Alfonz Juck
Nick Willis, photo by Kevin Morris
RunBlogRun opines:
The importance the Olympics can not be overstated. In an age where terrorism is nearly a daily occurance, and we have become silent and cold to the basic needs of war created refugees, the world needs eighteen days of athletes, great and not so great competing to see who is the finest in the world. How can one not be overcome by one amazing moment or two amazing moments in an Olympic cycle?
In reading the updates below from our friend, Alfons Juck, I am reminded that some countries send five hundred and fifty-five athletes, such as the US, and some send two, like Gambia. In each case, the dreams and prayers of the country are behind their sons and daughters. And that, is wonderful.
OTHER RIO NEWS
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): In the refugees team for Olympic Games 6 athletics representatives. South Sudanese runners Yiech Pur Biel (800 meters), James Nyang Chiengjiek (400), Anjelina Nada Lohalith (1,500), Rose Nathike Lokonyen (800) and Paulo Amotun Lokoro (1,500) and Ethiopian marathon runner Yonas Kinde.
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Members of the IAAF Ethics Board, including the Chairman and a Legal Secretary, will be present at the Olympic Games in Rio during the period of the athletics events (12-21 August) to deal with any urgent matter which may constitute a breach of the IAAF Code of Ethics.
ALGER (ALG): Algeria will be represented in Rio by 15 athletes. The team leader is 2012 Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi and decathlete Larbi Bouraada. Most of the team is already in Rio. Makhloufi is also entered in the 800 m.
DAKAR (SEN): The Gambia will be represented by 2 sprinters in Rio, who are based at the Dakar High Performance Training Center. Both of them set new national records in 2016 to qualify for the Olympics. Adama Jammeh in men 200 m with 20.45 and Gina Bass with 22.92 in women 200 m.
RABAT (MAR): A ceremony to honour the 20 athletes who will represent Morocco at the Olympic Games was organised by the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA). Top names are Abdelaati Iguider entered in 1500 m and 3000 m. In the women 800 m and 1500 m both Rabab Arrafi and Malika Akkaoui are selected.
NAIROBI (KEN): Six-time Africa race walk champion Grace Wanjiru and 2016 Africa Walk champion Samuel Gathimba are upbeat of great performance at Olympics Games as they depart for Brazil. For lack of support by Athletics Kenya, 28-year-old Gathimba did not take up the sport since leaving Gakuyu High School until 2014 when he joined the Kenyan Prison Services. Today, Gathimba is emboldened to pursue his first love. His time of 1:19:24 makes him the tenth best 20km walker of 2016 in the world, just less than two minutes of Japan’s Eiki Takahashi, who leads the season with a time of 1:18:26. “I have really worked hard in training. My Rio Olympics qualification is due to persistence. I can assure you walkers will come back with medals,” said Gathimba. Informs East Standard.
STIRLING (GBR): Andrew Butchart’s coach Derek Easton is tipping his pupil to reach the Olympic 5000m final, informs BBC News. “The target was to make the final, but after the Anniversary Games I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t make the final and I don’t see any reasons why he can’t be right up there,” he said. Butchart has broken the long-standing Scottish records over 3000m and 5000m this summer and won the British Championships over 5000m.
ELDORET (KEN): Margaret Wambui has vowed to show extra caution at the Olympic Games after she was disqualified from the Monaco Diamond League for a lane violation. “I was very discouraged after stepping on the line but I will be more careful now that I am appearing for the first time there,” she said. Wambui is confident she can improve her lifetime best of 1:57.52 in Rio. “With the presence of Semenya who has set a world lead, I know they will push me into improving my time. That is what I am confident of in Rio.”
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA): Ice hockey Olympic champion Angela Ruggiero has been elected as the new chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, replacing the outgoing Claudia Bokel. Ruggiero had been considered the favourite to take up the role, with the American having been serving as the Commission’s vice-chair, with the position also seeing her join the IOC Executive Board. Tony Estanguet, a three-time Olympic canoeing gold medallist, has been elected as vice-chair. Elections will be held for new IOC Athletes’ Commission positions during Rio 2016.With the help from insidethegames.
BRADENTON (USA): Heraldsun informs that Darya Klishina is ready to compete in long jump in Rio. Her coach American Loren Seagrave said his charge was determined to put the Russian scandal behind her. “She’s keeping the blinders on and staying focused,” he said. “That’s basically been the plan all the way through, just don’t let all the other stuff get in the way. She’s in great shape. The situation is, and this is on the public record, she’s had three competitions. She is competition-ready. She opted not to petition to compete at the European championships so she could better prepare for the Olympics.” She won with 673 at Znamensky Memorial on June 4, then at Russian Cup meet in Yerino windy 680 on June 12 and at nationals in Cheboksary 684 win on June 21. “I still don’t know exactly what will happen but the Russian Olympic Committee has entered her. We feel fairly certain that she will compete in a Russian uniform. And if she’s fortunate enough to win a medal I strongly imagine that they will raise the Russian flag. All of our dealings have been through the Russian Olympic Committee,” said Seagrave for Heraldsun.
