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International Olympic Committee (IOC) announces Olympic champions, medallists and Olympians as Athlete Role Models for Dakar 2026

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1 month ago

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Olympic

The IOC has announced an initial list of 31 Athlete Role Models for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, including multiple Olympic champions and medallists

DAKAR, Senegal, April 20, 2026/APO Group/ –The International Olympic Committee (IOC) (www.Olympics.com) has announced the first group of Athlete Role Models (http://apo-opa.co/3Qky50M) for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) (http://apo-opa.co/4clOeLQ), marking an important step in preparations for the first Olympic sporting event to be held on the African continent.

 

Key facts

The IOC has announced an initial list of 31 Athlete Role Models for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, including multiple Olympic champions and medallists.

The Athlete Role Models will provide mentoring and workshop training to young athletes on site during Dakar 2026.

In collaboration with the International Federations, experienced Olympians from the 25 competition sports and 10 engagement sports on the Dakar 2026 programme have been selected as Athlete Role Models. They are:

  • Clarisse Agbegnenou (FRA, judo)
  • Stéphane Badji (SEN, football)
  • Christopher Bak (USA, rowing)
  • Asunción Batista (ESP, beach handball)
  • Rémy Bedu (FRA, golf)
  • Yves Bourhis (SEN, canoe slalom)
  • Jean-Pierre Bourhis (SEN, canoe slalom)
  • Darcy Bourne (GBR, hockey)
  • Douglas Brose (BRA, karate)
  • Sheila Chajira (KEN, rugby sevens)
  • Doaa Elghobashy (EGY, beach volleyball)
  • Jomana Elsaiy (EGY, shooting)
  • Ruth Gbagbi (CIV, taekwondo)
  • Sonja Greinacher (GER, basketball 3×3)
  • Zohra Nora Kehli (ALG, fencing)
  • Khadija Krimi (TUN, rowing)
  • Xiaoxiao Lai (CHN, wushu)
  • Rayssa Leal (BRA, skateboarding)
  • Vincent Luis (FRA, triathlon)
  • Jamila Lunkuse (UGA, swimming)
  • Dina Meshref (EGY, table tennis)
  • Halimah Nakaayi (UGA, athletics)
  • Kaylia Nemour (ALG, artistic gymnastics)
  • Blessing Oborududu (NGR, wrestling)
  • Forrester Osei (GHA, weightlifting)
  • Ayako Rokkaku (JPN, baseball5, baseball/softball)
  • Edmond Sanka (SEN, canoe sprint, Para canoe)
  • Combe Seck (SEN, canoe sprint)
  • Richard Torrez Jr. (USA, boxing)
  • Maja Włoszczowska (POL, cycling)
  • Siwei Zheng (CHN, badminton)

The full biographies of each Athlete Role Model can be found on the Athlete365 website (http://apo-opa.co/41KHuB3).

They represent the very best of Olympism and will help shape the experience of the young athletes competing in Senegal

Since the inaugural Singapore 2010 YOG, the Athlete Role Model programme has been a central component of each edition, providing the young athletes competing with a chance to learn from experienced Olympians.

The Athlete Role Models will be on the ground in Senegal to engage with competing athletes, providing support and advice around competition and taking part in educational workshops. These workshops cover topics such as career management, injury prevention and mental preparation, among many other things.

The Athlete Role Models will also attend training sessions, engage with the local community, support the athletes from the sidelines and be there to congratulate them at victory ceremonies.

Speaking about his selection as an Athlete Role Model, Chinese Olympic champion in badminton (mixed doubles) Shiwei Zheng said: “This opportunity is a powerful extension of my life’s work… It allows me to show that being a ‘champion’ isn’t just about medals – it’s about how you live, lead and lift others up.”

Meanwhile, Spaniard Asunción Batista – named best player in the world in beach handball in 2022 – spoke about what being an Athlete Role Model means to her: “Personally, this opportunity means growth, purpose and the chance to be part of something bigger than me.”

Senegal’s flagbearer at the Paris 2024 Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Combe Seck (canoe sprint), spoke about what it means to serve as an Athlete Role Model in her own city: “This opportunity represents a real challenge and is a great source of pride for me. Being an Athlete Role Model in Dakar, my city, is a chance to push myself, bring value and contribute to something truly meaningful.”

Jamila Lunkuse, a two-time Olympian in swimming from Uganda, spoke of what she wants to achieve in this role: “Representation really matters to me… I want to be that visible presence for young athletes that I didn’t always have.”

Douglas Brose – a Brazilian karateka and one of the most accomplished athletes in the history of men’s kumite – explained why he wanted to be an Athlete Role Model for Dakar 2026: “I didn’t build my career only to win medals – I built it to open paths.”

On this milestone announcement, IOC Athletes’ Department Director Kaveh Mehrabi said: “Like many in our society, young athletes naturally look up to Olympians for guidance and inspiration. At every edition of the YOG, we have witnessed the incredible impact of Athlete Role Models in terms of athlete experience, and that’s why we are convinced that these outstanding role models will play a central role during Dakar 2026 and beyond. They represent the very best of Olympism and will help shape the experience of the young athletes competing in Senegal. Their contribution will be invaluable in supporting the mission of Dakar 2026 and empowering the next generation to chase their dreams.”

This announcement underscores the IOC’s commitment to delivering a meaningful athlete experience at the Youth Olympic Games, while supporting the legacy of Dakar 2026 in Senegal and across Africa.

The Dakar 2026 YOG will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together around 2,700 young athletes aged up to 17 across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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Take Your Shot & Make Your Moment: OPPO Ignites Football Culture with Technology at the UEFA Champions League Final

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13 hours ago

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June 1, 2026

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OPPO

BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 May 2026 – The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League Final has drawn to a spectacular close in Budapest, with Paris Saint-Germain emerging victorious to lift the legendary trophy. As an official partner of the UEFA Champions League for four consecutive years, global technology brand OPPO joined the celebrations to mark the end of another action-packed season supporting football development and football culture worldwide with technology. With its advanced camera technology and Make Your Moment philosophy, OPPO has enabled millions of football fans worldwide to capture highlights and record life-defining moments both inside and outside the stadium this season, inspiring everyone to Take Your Shot with OPPO.

Telephoto Camera & AI Take Match Viewing to a New League

At the event in Budapest, OPPO showcased its latest telephoto camera technology and AI innovations in an immersive exhibition featuring the latest flagship Find X series—including the newly launched OPPO Find X9 Ultra—alongside the Find N foldable series and the Reno series. Equipped with a Hasselblad-powered 10x optical telephoto zoom, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra enables fans to capture detailed stadium moments with remarkable clarity, even from the upper tiers, while 8K ultra-clear video recording and advanced AI imaging capabilities make it easier than ever to capture decisive match moments, including game-winning shots, as if standing on the sidelines. Through the comprehensive end-to-end image ecosystem, OPPO Find X9 Ultra users can also share footages at near to original image quality across social platforms instantly. From high-resolution capture, smart editing, to lossless sharing, OPPO makes it effortless to Take Your Shot and Make Your Moment with exciting match moments preserved in vivid detail.

Empowering Global Football Development and Igniting Passion Worldwide

Beyond the pitch, OPPO continues to support football development through innovation and partnership programs, using its advanced smartphone imaging capabilities to help fans around the world capture iconic match moments and share the passion and emotion of the game. In collaboration with Discovery, OPPO has produced a UEFA Champions League short film that showcases the emotional power of football told through real fan stories, using OPPO imaging technology to bring the spirit of the game to audiences globally.

Over the past year, OPPO has also launched a range of football partnerships and community initiatives around the world. In Indonesia, OPPO became the official smartphone partner of the BRI Super League for the 2025–2027 season, supporting the continued development of football in the country. Meanwhile in Mexico, as the official sponsor of football club Gambeta FC, OPPO supported the club’s youth academy through equipment donations, scholarship programs, tournament organization, talent development initiatives, and professional coaching resources. Through these efforts, OPPO is helping players of different ages to develop their talent and chase their dreams of becoming professional football players while continuing to support and inspire a shared passion for football across communities worldwide.

In May 2026, OPPO Colombia announced football star Luis Díaz as its official brand ambassador. As part of the partnership, OPPO teamed up with the Luis Díaz Foundation to launch the “Lucho por Colombia (Fight for Colombia)” social responsibility initiative. The program provides smart connected devices and support for digital skills training centers across Colombia’s La Guajira region, helping expand access to digital education in local communities. Through collaborations with the football star, alongside other public welfare initiatives and continued product innovation, OPPO continues to strengthen its connection with local communities and further expands its presence across Latin America under its long-term commitment to the market.

Beyond these social and community welfare initiatives, OPPO has also launched a number of football-themed events that bring the brand and football fans closer together worldwide through a shared passion for football. On the eve of the UEFA Champions League final, OPPO invited football legends Theo Walcott and Claude Makélélé to join a 5v5 friendly match in Budapest, where the legends shared skills, career experiences, and discussed their perspectives on the game with fans. Key moments throughout the match were captured using OPPO’s latest flagship smartphone, the OPPO Find X9 Ultra, with every pass, shot, and interaction recorded in vivid detail through the device’s advanced imaging capabilities.

Inspiring Young Creators and Championing Football Culture

Ahead of the final, OPPO partnered with Discovery Channel to launch the Filmmaker Accelerator Program. With mentorship from Discovery, the initiative encourages aspiring creators to capture diverse stories using OPPO imaging technology, helping to support young creators globally. With football culture as one of the program’s core themes, OPPO is not only empowering the next generation of creators with a platform for expression but also enriching stories around football culture through these diverse perspectives, taking the spirit of football beyond borders to connect with broader audiences worldwide. As part of the program, a special documentary video exploring football culture is set to premiere worldwide at the end of June 2026.

As another sensational UEFA Champions League season comes to an end, OPPO looks forward to continuing to use its world-leading innovation to bring football fans around the world more powerful and user-friendly technology that enables everyone to Make Your Moment by capturing football highlights both on and off the pitch. In the meantime, OPPO will continue to deepen its long-term partnerships with global football institutions, promoting new ways of expressing and sharing football culture as it takes the game to the next level worldwide.

 

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Basketball Africa League (BAL) Innovation Summit 2026

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4 days ago

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May 29, 2026

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Basketball

Participants took part in a series of panels, fireside chats and presentations focused on the intersection of technology, fan engagement and operational excellence in sport

KIGALI, Rwanda, May 28, 2026/APO Group/ — The 2026 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Innovation Summit (https://BAL.NBA.com/), presented by Amazon Web Services and supported by Afreximbank, Greenride Africa, RwandAir and ServiceNow took place on Tuesday, May 26 in Kigali, Rwanda, bringing together leaders from across sport, business, technology and the creative industries to explore the future of Africa’s sports ecosystem. Held in conjunction with the BAL Playoffs and Finals, the Summit convened key stakeholders to engage in forward-looking conversations under the theme “Beyond the Game: Building the Future of Sport, Business and Culture in Africa.”

Participants took part in a series of panels, fireside chats and presentations focused on the intersection of technology, fan engagement and operational excellence in sport.

During a featured fireside chat, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall outlined the league’s continued evolution and the transition toward a franchise model, emphasizing the opportunity to build sustainable, locally rooted teams and unlock new commercial pathways for partners and investors.

 

Other sessions featured contributions from global and African leaders, including representatives from ServiceNow, the Rwanda ICT Chamber and leading sports organizations, highlighting how innovation and data are transforming how leagues operate and how fans experience the game.

 

The summit also spotlighted the growing connection between sport and the creative economy, with sessions exploring the role of music, fashion and storytelling in shaping Africa’s global cultural influence. Industry leaders discussed how collaboration across sectors can help scale Africa’s creative industries while amplifying the continent’s talent and narratives on a global stage.

 

Notable attendees included Rwanda Development Board and partner representatives, 2004 WNBA All-Star and Boston Celtics Vice President: Team Operations and Organizational Growth Allison Feaster, 2011 NBA champion Ian Mahinmi, 2012 Olympian Pops Mensah-Bonsu, 2026 FIBA Hall of Famer and former WNBA player Clarisse Machanguana, Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial Director Jessica Motaung, NBA Africa CEO Clare Akamanzi, BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall, Rwanda ICT Chamber Private Sector CEO Alex Ntale, Qatar Foundation Director of Sports Strategy Safia Al-naimi, RwandAir CEO Yvonne Makolo, Greenride Africa CEO Aboubacar Casse, ServiceNow Africa Vice President and Managing Director Cheick Camara, Fashion Designer Chuks Collins, and YouTube Head of Music Sub-Saharan Africa Addy Awofisayo.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Basketball Africa League (BAL).

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Rugby Africa Appoints Former National Basketball Association (NBA) Africa Executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President

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7 days ago

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May 26, 2026

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Rugby

In this strategic leadership role, Aïcha Diop will support Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, Executive Board Member of World Rugby and Chairman of World Rugby Regions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), the continental governing body for rugby union in Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of former NBA Africa executive Aïcha Diop as Chief of Staff to the President.

 

In this strategic leadership role, Aïcha Diop will work and support  Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, Executive Board Member of World Rugby, and Chairman of World Rugby Regions—the body uniting the presidents of all six continental rugby associations: Rugby Europe, Asia Rugby, Rugby Americas North (RAN), Sudamérica Rugby, Oceania Rugby, and Rugby Africa. In his capacity, Mr Mensah operates at the intersection of continental and global sports governance, engaging with heads of state, ministers, and leaders of development finance institutions to advance the role of sport as an engine for economic growth and social development. These combined mandates place him among the most influential sports administrators in Africa.

A seasoned international executive, Aïcha brings over 18 years of experience across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, combining strategic leadership, operational execution, and high-level expertise in marketing, brand development, and audience growth. She has held senior roles at NBA Africa and the Basketball Africa League, part of the team who launched the Basketball Africa League (BAL) where she led multi-market initiatives, coordinated cross-functional teams, and contributed to the growth and visibility of the organisation through impactful campaigns and programmes.

Attracting talent of this calibre reflects our ambition to elevate rugby across Africa and position Rugby Africa as a modern, high-performance organisation on the global stage

Her career also includes senior positions at IBM, where she managed regional initiatives across multiple African markets, aligning strategy with execution and supporting business growth. In addition, she has been involved in the delivery of major international sports and entertainment events, including Formula 1, UFC, and global football competitions, and broader sports ecosystem on the continent further strengthening her ability to operate in high-performance, international environments.

Aïcha holds a Master’s degree in Sport & Lifestyle Management from Rome Business School, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her combined academic and professional background provides a strong understanding of sports ecosystems, organisational dynamics, and audience engagement, supporting Rugby Africa’s ambitions to expand its reach and impact across the continent.

Herbert Mensah, President of Rugby Africa, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Aïcha Diop to Rugby Africa. Her exceptional track record, international exposure, and deep understanding of the sports and commercial landscape make her a remarkable addition to our leadership team. Attracting talent of this calibre reflects our ambition to elevate rugby across Africa and position Rugby Africa as a modern, high-performance organisation on the global stage.”

Aïcha Diop added: “It is a great honour to join Rugby Africa at such an exciting time for the sport across the continent. Under the leadership of President Herbert Mensah, Rugby Africa is playing an increasingly important role on both the African and global stage. The continued success of African rugby, exemplified by South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories in 1995, 2007, 2019, and most recently in 2023, reflects the immense potential of the continent. I look forward to contributing to this momentum, supporting the delivery of Rugby Africa’s strategic priorities, and working alongside its stakeholders to further unlock the power of rugby as a driver of opportunity, unity, and sustainable development across Africa.”

In her role as Chief of Staff, Aïcha will work closely with the President to drive strategic initiatives, enhance coordination across member unions and stakeholders, and support the delivery of Rugby Africa’s long-term vision, including the continued expansion of competitions, partnerships, and youth engagement across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.

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