Naomi Osaka of Japan returns a shot against Anett Kontaveit of
Estonia during the Western & Southern Open at the USTA Billie Jean
King National Tennis Center on August 26, 2020 in New York City. Al
Bello/Getty Images/AFP.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka reversed her decision to
withdraw from the WTA Western & Southern Open semi-finals on
Thursday, saying she will now play the match that has been
rearranged for Friday.
The two-time Grand Slam champion said in a statement on
Wednesday that she had pulled out of her last-four clash with
Belgium’s Elise Mertens in protest at the police shooting of black
man Jacob Blake in Wisconsin.
However, after WTA and ATP chiefs announced a suspension of play
at the tournament following anger over Blake’s shooting, Osaka said
she has now changed her mind.
“As you know, I pulled out of the tournament yesterday in
support of racial injustice and continued police violence,” Osaka
said in a statement first reported by Britain’s The Guardian and
The New York Times.
“I was (and am) ready and prepared to concede the match to my
opponent.
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“However, after my announcement and lengthy consultation with
the WTA and USTA, I have agreed at their request to play on
Friday.
“They offered to postpone all matches until Friday and in my
mind that brings more attention to the movement.
“I want to thank the WTA and the tournament for their
support.”
In her statement on Wednesday, Osaka had said she was not ready
to play tennis following the Blake shooting.
“Before I am an athlete, I am a black woman. And as a black
woman I feel as though there are much more important matters at
hand that need immediate attention, rather than watching me play
tennis,” Osaka said.
“I don’t expect anything drastic to happen with me not playing,
but if I can get a conversation started in a majority white sport I
consider that a step in the right direction.”
Her move came after the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their NBA
playoff game over the shooting, forcing the league to halt
Wednesday’s schedule of postseason fixtures.
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/08/28/osaka-reverses-course-will-play-wta-semi-final/
NYIF: Minister Hails Focal Group Volunteers
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has
commended members of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Focal
Group for the dedication they have shown in carrying out their
unpaid volunteer work for the Fund.
The Minister, who made the commendation when the NYIF Focal
Group presented its preliminary report to him in Abuja on Thursday,
noted that the members were selected based on their skills,
competence and areas of expertise.
He explained that “We will take time to study this interim that
has been submitted by the NYIF Focal Group will be harmonized with
the interim report that the Technical Committee has submitted and
the outcome of that will be presented to the Steering
Committee.
“It is important for me to state that I am impressed, and I
commend the quality of work you have put in because this
assignment, membership of the Focal Group is not a paid assignment,
it is volunteer work. This is rendering service to the country and
to the youth,” he stressed.
The Focal Group’s team lead, Oladipupo Adebiyi, while presenting
the report during a virtual event, said “The NYIF initiative enjoys
public support especially from young Nigerians. Nigerians believe
the fund will address unemployment and reduce poverty amongst young
Nigerians.
“The fund will not only cushion the effect of the COVID-19
pandemic on the economic condition of young people, it will also
foster the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Most young Nigerians strongly posit that the success of the fund
will be contingent on its inclusiveness, monitoring and evaluation
mechanism and sustainability framework.”
The group’s terms of reference required that it Provide
advisory, insights and suggestions on the successful implementation
of the NYIF emanating from both the group and the youth population;
Propose ideas and initiatives that promote the NYIF and supports
its impact on youth entrepreneurship across the country; Provide
feedback on the expectations of the youth with regard to the
implementation of NYIF across the youth demography in the country;
Serve as ambassadors of the NYIF in their various communities and
spheres of influence; Coordinate the engagement of the NYIF with
youth groups and other stakeholders across the country for a proper
feedback process to strengthen the Fund; and Advise on other
related issue(s) as may be requested by the Inter-ministerial
Steering Committee.
*Media Office To The Honourable Minister Of Youth And
Sports Development*: Minister Hails Focal Group Volunteers
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has
commended members of the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) Focal
Group for the dedication they have shown in carrying out their
unpaid volunteer work for the Fund.
The Minister, who made the commendation when the NYIF Focal
Group presented its preliminary report to him in Abuja on Thursday,
noted that the members were selected based on their skills,
competence and areas of expertise.
He explained that “We will take time to study this interim that
has been submitted by the NYIF Focal Group will be harmonized with
the interim report that the Technical Committee has submitted and
the outcome of that will be presented to the Steering
Committee.
“It is important for me to state that I am impressed, and I
commend the quality of work you have put in because this
assignment, membership of the Focal Group is not a paid assignment,
it is volunteer work. This is rendering service to the country and
to the youth,” he stressed.
The Focal Group’s team lead, Oladipupo Adebiyi, while presenting
the report during a virtual event, said “The NYIF initiative enjoys
public support especially from young Nigerians. Nigerians believe
the fund will address unemployment and reduce poverty amongst young
Nigerians.
“The fund will not only cushion the effect of the COVID-19
pandemic on the economic condition of young people, it will also
foster the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Most young Nigerians strongly posit that the success of the fund
will be contingent on its inclusiveness, monitoring and evaluation
mechanism and sustainability framework.”
The group’s terms of reference required that it Provide
advisory, insights and suggestions on the successful implementation
of the NYIF emanating from both the group and the youth population;
Propose ideas and initiatives that promote the NYIF and supports
its impact on youth entrepreneurship across the country; Provide
feedback on the expectations of the youth with regard to the
implementation of NYIF across the youth demography in the country;
Serve as ambassadors of the NYIF in their various communities and
spheres of influence; Coordinate the engagement of the NYIF with
youth groups and other stakeholders across the country for a proper
feedback process to strengthen the Fund; and Advise on other
related issue(s) as may be requested by the Inter-ministerial
Steering Committee.
*Media Office To The Honourable Minister Of Youth And
Sports Development*