Connect with us

Sports

Paris Boosts Security For Historic Olympic Opening

Published

on

Paris has heightened security measures as preparations accelerate for the upcoming Olympic Games.

On Saturday, security teams thoroughly searched the banks of the Seine River, where the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony will take place next Friday.

Police units, aided by sniffer dogs, inspected the six-kilometer (four-mile) route along the Seine.

This route will feature 6,000 to 7,000 athletes sailing on nearly 100 barges and riverboats before an audience of 300,000 spectators.

READ ALSO: Trump Is A Menace, Danger To The World – Wole Soyinka

To ensure safety, French police will receive support from international counterparts, including officers from Spain, Britain, and Qatar.

A rehearsal for the ceremony occurred early Saturday morning on the river, with security barriers and police preventing any public or media access.

This marks the first time in Olympic history that the opening ceremony of the Summer Games will be held outside a stadium, promising a unique and historic event.

The preparations for the Olympic opening ceremony have extensively disrupted central Paris, requiring residents to use a pass with a special QR code to cross the Seine.

Behi Samadian, a 69 year old who runs a boutique in saint-Germain-des-pres said “We’ve had far fewer customers than usual for the last two weeks. There aren’t many tourists, and lots of Parisians have left town. All our local clientele has gone.”

Team delegations have started checking into the athletes’ village, but some arrivals were delayed by Friday’s global IT crash.“Like many organizations, we suffered from this global Microsoft outage. All of our servers were affected this morning,” Said Games chief organizer Tony Estanguet on Friday.

He also disclosed that the accreditation systems were back online by Friday evening and the ticketing systems were not affected.

Organizers report that 8.7 million tickets have already been sold, surpassing the record set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, with sales ongoing for some of the 45 sports.

Some of the athletes expected to be the biggest stars of the Games, including American sprinter Noah Lyles, will have their final pre-Olympic competition at the Diamond League meeting in London on Saturday.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Chelsea Handed Injury Boost As Omari Kellyman Nears Return

Published

on

Chelsea are set to receive a welcome boost with Omari Kellyman nearing a return to action after a frustrating start to his Stamford Bridge career.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the Blues from Aston Villa in a £19 million summer transfer, has been sidelined with a serious hamstring injury since September.

Kellyman initially made an impression with Chelsea’s Under-21s, scoring twice in three appearances, including during a 4-2 defeat to Leipzig in the Premier League International Cup. However, his progress was halted by the injury, which has kept him out of action for months.

READ MORE: Chelsea Desires Permanent Deal For João Félix After Collapse Of Omorodion Deal

According to reports from the Daily Mail, Kellyman is now on track to return within the next four weeks, offering Chelsea a much-needed boost as the team looks to navigate a congested festive fixture schedule. The teenager is expected to be fit before Christmas and could soon make his senior debut for the club.

Reflecting on his move to Chelsea earlier this year, Kellyman expressed his excitement about joining the West London outfit. “It is fantastic to be standing here as a Chelsea player. It’s a massive club with an amazing history, so it is great to join. It is a dream come true for sure. I’m buzzing to have put on the shirt and can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Kellyman’s footballing journey began at Derby County, where he progressed through the youth ranks and was promoted to the first-team squad by Wayne Rooney at just 16 years old.

After leaving Derby for Aston Villa in 2022, he signed his first professional contract and made his Premier League debut last season against Manchester City.

Despite his brief stint at Villa, which included a Europa Conference League appearance, Kellyman made the high-profile move to Chelsea in June, signing a six-year contract.

Now, as he edges closer to full fitness, both the player and the club will hope his long-awaited debut signals the start of a successful tenure at Stamford Bridge.

Continue Reading

Sports

Chelsea Holds Scouting Summit With Enzo Maresca

Published

on

Earlier this month, Chelsea Football Club convened a comprehensive meeting of their first-team recruitment team, aimed at aligning their efforts with the club’s overarching vision.

This scouting summit brought together approximately 30 of the club’s key talent identifiers, with the objective of reinvigorating the search for future stars in world football.

Adding an extra layer of inspiration to the gathering, Leicester City manager and former Manchester City assistant, Enzo Maresca, made a guest appearance. Maresca, who briefly worked alongside some of Chelsea’s current personnel during his time under Pep Guardiola, took time to pose for a group photograph with the team. Those present reportedly left the summit feeling “enthused, energised, and as motivated as ever” to uncover the next generation of footballing gems.

READ MORE: Osimhen Casts Doubts Over Touted Winter Move To Chelsea

The Italian tactician has maintained an interest in Chelsea’s squad and their emerging talents. A source close to Maresca suggested that he harbours a keen desire to see Cole Palmer, one of Chelsea’s brightest young signings, team up with Joao Felix, the Portuguese forward who enjoyed a brief but impactful loan spell at Stamford Bridge last season.

While Palmer continues to thrive at Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester City, Felix’s future remains uncertain, with speculation persisting about whether the Blues could revisit a permanent deal for the Atlético Madrid star.

Chelsea’s recruitment team will undoubtedly keep such possibilities in mind as they look to execute their shared vision, leveraging the energy from this summit to identify players capable of complementing the club’s long-term strategy. With Maresca’s words and presence leaving a lasting impression, the search for the world’s finest footballing gems continues in earnest.

Continue Reading

Sports

Lukeba’s €90m Clause Attracts Real Madrid, PL Clubs

Published

on

 

RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba has become a hot topic in the transfer market following details about his new contract.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Lukeba’s release clause will come into effect in the summer of 2025, starting at around €90 million and varying from season to season.

This development has drawn the attention of football giants, with Real Madrid reportedly keeping a close watch on the French centre-back’s progress. Premier League clubs are also monitoring Lukeba as a potential defensive reinforcement for 2025.

READ MORE: Wizkid Breaks Spotify Records With ‘Kese (Dance)’ Release

The 20-year-old, who joined Leipzig from Olympique Lyonnais in 2023, has already made an impression in the Bundesliga with his composed defensive skills and tactical versatility. His rising profile has placed him among Europe’s most promising young defenders, making him a coveted target for top clubs.

Leipzig’s decision to include a fluctuating release clause highlights their commitment to protecting Lukeba’s value while leaving the door open for a future big-money move.

With Real Madrid and several Premier League sides in the mix, the 2025 summer transfer window is already shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Lukeba’s career. Fans and scouts alike will be closely watching his development as he continues to shine in Leipzig’s backline.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.