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UEFA Snubs Wembley, Moves Champions League Final to Porto

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Champions League Final

By Adedapo Adesanya

The plan to host the Champions League final between Chelsea and Manchester City in Wembley, England, has been dealt a huge blow as Estadio do Dragao in Portugal has been selected by the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) instead.

There had been plans to move the final to the stadium located in the English capital, London as the European football governing body had held talks with the United Kingdom government, but there was a considerable sticking point over waiving quarantine rules for the 2,000 staff, sponsors, VIPs and foreign media.

The fixture was due to take place at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul on May 29, but pressure mounted for the venue to be changed after the UK government placed Turkey on its red list of at-risk countries and urged fans not to travel for the fixture and Business Post had reported that the body was mulling the idea of moving the venue, with Wembley being the one highly considered.

Now, UEFA is in talks with the Portuguese government to allow 20,000 to attend the final, about 30 per cent capacity at the 50,000-seater stadium where Porto FC plays its matches, and that would mean up to 6,000 tickets for fans of each club.

Portugal is on the government green list so fans and visitors from the UK will be able to travel there from Sunday and they will not need to quarantine but they will have to take COVID-19 tests before and after they travel.

It would have been cheaper and easier for UEFA to host the game at Wembley which already has the infrastructure set up to be a UEFA European Championship venue next month but the governing body felt it could not do so without the guarantee of government waivers.

This will be the third final in Portugal in eight years but the first in Porto.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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GOtv Boxing Night 33: Microbiology Graduate Boxer, Shogbesan, Vows to Floor Opponent with Tech and Biology

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GOtv Boxing Night 33

Sikiru “Omo Iya Eleja” Shogbesan, Nigeria’s first graduate boxer, has vowed to use his knowledge of technology and biology to floor Segun Gbobaniyi when they clash at GOtv Boxing Night 33 on 26 April at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Shogbesan, who was discovered at GOtv Boxing NextGen Search, the talent discovery and nurturing initiative that has produced many top boxers, holds a Higher National Diploma in Microbiology, Ordinary National Diploma in science laboratory technology, graduating with Upper Credit at both levels, and has completed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps programme.

Speaking at his training base in Lagos on Friday, Shogbesan said his knowledge of technology and biology has always helped in the ring and it would be put to use against Gbogbaniyi against whom he would fight in the lightweight category.

“Segun (Gbobaniyi) does not know what is coming. Even if he does, he will not know how to deal with it. In the ring, I am guided by knowledge of technology and biology, both of which I studied in school. Both fields help me in determining what to do when I am in the ring. Segun will not go beyond three rounds. Mark my words,” he boasted.

In the super featherweight division, Sodiq Oyakojo will face Lateef “Latest” Azeez. The super bantamweight category will see a fight between Durotimi Agboola and Sodiq Adeleke. The event will stage to light welterweight bouts. One will feature William “Kaki” Amosu and Emmanuel ‘Ability” Abimbola, while the other will see a clash between Tobiloba Ijomoni and Hassan Kareem. There will also be a female super flyweight female bout Ayisat Oriyomi and Olofintunyi Iyanuoluwa.

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How Does Weather Affect Golf Strategy?

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Golf Strategy

Weather plays a crucial role in golf strategy, influencing everything from club selection to shot execution. Punters have a chance to win on 1xBet betting site when wagering on everything that happens during golf matches too.

Golfers must adapt their approach to optimize their performance on the course based on 4 factors:

  • wind;
  • rain;
  • temperature;
  • and even humidity.

In 1st place, wind is one of the most significant weather factors affecting golf. Everybody can win at the 1xBet betting site when wagering on golf competitions played under various different conditions.

A strong headwind can shorten a shot’s distance, requiring players to use a more powerful club or adjust their swing to keep the ball low. A tailwind, on the other hand, adds extra carry, so golfers may opt for a shorter club to maintain control. Crosswinds demand precision, as they can push the ball off course. Skilled golfers learn to shape shots making 2 things: a fade or draw. The idea is to counteract wind direction.

Playing in rainy conditions

Rain impacts 2 things: ball flight and course conditions. To download 1xBet apk for Android devices is very easy, and here you can also wager on what happens during golf competitions played under rain too.

Wet fairways and greens slow down ball roll, requiring golfers to adjust their approach shots to land closer to the target. Additionally, damp clubfaces reduce spin, affecting shot control. It is also possible to download the 1xBet apk for Android devices, so you can enjoy golf wagers from your tablet and smartphone.

In heavy rain, maintaining a firm grip becomes challenging, making rain gloves and towels essential. Golfers may also need to alter putting speed, as wet greens are slower than dry ones.

Temperature and humidity

Temperature is a 3rd essential factor to consider. Cold weather reduces ball compression, resulting in shorter distances. Golfers often use softer balls in lower temperatures to maximize performance. Conversely, warm weather increases ball compression, allowing for greater distance. Players also need to adjust clothing layers, as restricted movement from bulky attire can hinder swing mechanics. Everyone is invited to 1x Bet register today to wager on the most capable golfers from all over the world.

Finally, in 4th place, we have humidity. High humidity reduces air density, allowing the ball to travel slightly farther. Conversely, dry air increases resistance, leading to shorter shots. While the effect is subtle, professional golfers often consider humidity when fine-tuning their club selection. Golf fans can also try to register today at 1x Bet to wager on their favorite sport.

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Kirsty Coventry Emerges First African, Woman to Head International Olympic Committee

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Kirsty Coventry

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Zimbabwean Minister of Sports, Ms Kirsty Coventry, has been elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

She became the first woman and African to hold the position vacated by Mr Thomas Bach, who has been on the seat for the last 12 years.

The Zimbabwe sports minister and two-time Olympic swimming gold medalist got a stunning first-round win in the seven-candidate contest after voting by nearly 100 of her colleagues in the IOC membership on Thursday.

She gets an eight-year mandate into 2033.

According to reports, the election was the most open and hard-to-call IOC presidential election in decades with no clear front-runner before the vote.

She beat Mr Sebastian Coe, the UK’s two-time Olympic 1500m champion, who oversaw the London 2012 Games before taking charge of World Athletics as well as Spanish businessman Mr Juan Antonio Samaranch, who is currently the IOC’s vice-president; Sweden-born businessman and ski federation president Mr Johan Eliasch; Japan’s Mr Morinari Watanabe – head of the international gymnastics federation; French cycling chief Mr David Lappartient and Jordanian Prince Feisal al-Hussein.

Ms Coventry’s win also was a victory for outgoing IOC president Mr Bach, who has long been seen as promoting her as his successor.

He was also lauded for his role in sporting achievements including navigating the Olympics after the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent Paris 2024 Olympics.

“I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken,” Ms Coventry said in her acceptance speech.

Her first tournament in the role will be the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in February 2026, followed by the LA Summer Games in July 2028.

Ms Coventry’s IOC will also need to find a host for the 2036 Summer Games which is expected to be hosted in India or the Middle East.

She will be tasked towards navigating a lot of political and sporting issues necessitated by changing global trends.

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