Sport

China can arrange an open and safe Winter Olympics: Veikko Halonen

Published

4 years ago

August 17, 2021

“China has shown the way how to handle an epidemic. Tight rules for daily life have been proved the right strategy to ensure a quick comeback to normal social and economic life in China. Based on the experiences, China will arrange an open and safe Winter Olympics.” Veikko Halonen, the CEO of Vuokatti Olympic Training Center told People’s Daily in a recent written interview.

Halonen was very impressed by Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. “I have never seen such solid and coherent will and effort to organize a sport event. I still remember the scene when Finnish Olympic team came back home from Beijing in 2008. They praised Beijing Olympics as one of the best games in Olympic history”. From his point of view, with great efforts and enthusiasm, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games will again be “extraordinary and excellent”. “It seems that the coming Olympics are an event of whole people, not only an issue of limited number of athletes”, he added.

Beijing 2022 is committed to its mission of hosting “green, inclusive, open and clean” Olympic Winter Games. The Organising Committee’s initiatives include sustainable management of venues, low carbon programmes and sustainable sourcing. Halonen appreciated China’s efforts on ecological protection and stressed that sustainability is one of the most important issues all over the world.

Halonen has visited the venues and stadiums used at Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Now China has transformed the National Aquatics Centre, colloquially known as the “Water Cube”, into an “Ice Cube” for the coming Olympic Games. Wukesong Sports Centre, a former stadium for basketball, has been transformed into a stadium for ice hockey. It is the first venue in China which can be used for the two professional sports events after simple transformation. “I was very impressed when I had the chance to see how Beijing is reconstructing the previous steel factory, Shougang Park site, into a place of sports and leisure.” He stressed that all these changes manifest China’s implementation of the green Olympics and its responsibility for environmental protection.

Beijing 2022’s vision of giving 300 million people in China access to winter sports has already been visible. Halonen shared a similar period of history in Finland with People’s Daily: “50 years ago, Finland decided to encourage its people to go in for winter sports. We announced a campaign “Kansanhiihto” (‘Nation’s ski’ in English). That campaign was going on for years, and people were so proud if they got many ‘Nation’s ski’ textile marks in his/her ski jacket.” He believes that China’s vision of promoting 300 million people to be winter sports lovers will certainly be realized, and it will also facilitate the cooperation between Finland and China extending from Olympic games to mass sports, sports industry and other fields.

The cooperation between Finland and China in fields of winter sport games is getting much closer in recent years. During the China Finland Year of Winter Sports in 2019, the two countries held more than 60 celebrating events, boosting the development speed of winter sports industry in both countries. Halonen said it was great experience to take part in these events.

Vuokatti Sport Olympic Training Center lies in the northern part of Finland, attracting lots of Chinese athletes coming for competing and training every year. Halonen has been personally following the training of Chinese athletes and para-athletes: “Chinese teams are well-organized, and they have clear rules of training and daily programs. I am sure that China will improve its global status in winter sports. ”

This year, Chinese Lunar New Year began on February 12. Halonen shared a photo of four bottles of soy sauces made in China on his Facebook account that day. As a food and cooking lover, he was very happy to receive the gift form his Chinese colleague. “In recent years, my Chinese friends and colleagues have briefed me on many Chinese traditions and conventions. China, Chinese athletes and Chinese sports organization leaders have opened a wonderful window for me to the new culture.” He believed that the upcoming Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games will also be a precious chance for the world to learn more about China, and “the mutual trust and cooperation between Finland and China will surely continue to rise in sports fields.”

By Zhang Jinruo, People’s Daily

Sport

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba Gives Green Light to Manchester United Move

Published

9 hours ago

August 11, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Manchester United have moved closer to securing Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, with the 21-year-old reportedly approving a summer switch to Old Trafford.

According to transfer source IndyKaila, the Cameroon international has informed Brighton of his desire to join United, while his agent has agreed personal terms with the club. The deal now depends on the two sides settling on a transfer fee.

Baleba has emerged as United’s top target after the club failed to land Atalanta’s Ederson. Manager Ruben Amorim is eager to bolster his midfield options following Christian Eriksen’s departure in July, with plans to deploy Bruno Fernandes in a deeper role next season.

Brighton, however, are holding firm on their £100 million valuation — the same ballpark as Moises Caicedo, who joined Chelsea for €115 million last year. The Seagulls are reluctant to sell after Baleba’s standout 2023/24 season, in which he made 40 appearances, scored four goals, and registered two assists. His Estimated Transfer Value has risen by over €40 million in the past year.

United have already spent €229.7 million this summer on Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Diego Leon. Despite that investment, the club is still pursuing reinforcements, with a new goalkeeper also under consideration amid uncertainty over Andre Onana’s future.

Source: Football Transfer

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Sport

PSG Launch €150m Bid for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez

Published

10 hours ago

August 11, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Chelsea’s summer transfer window, so far dominated by player exits, has taken a dramatic turn with Paris Saint-Germain reportedly tabling a massive €150 million bid for midfielder Enzo Fernandez.

According to Fichajes, the European champions view the Argentine as the perfect replacement for Fabian Ruiz, who is set to leave the French capital. PSG’s proposal is said to include €125 million guaranteed plus €25 million in add-ons, with manager Luis Enrique a long-time admirer of the 24-year-old.

While the accuracy of the Spanish report remains unconfirmed, Fernandez has been no stranger to transfer speculation. Earlier in the summer, he was heavily linked with Real Madrid, though those rumours faded without action. This latest approach, however, appears more concrete given PSG’s urgent need for midfield reinforcements and the staggering size of the offer.

Since joining from Benfica, Fernandez has grown into one of the most influential figures in Enzo Maresca’s system. After a challenging adaptation period in the Premier League, he flourished last season, scoring nine goals and providing 17 assists. Maresca’s tactics have unlocked his ability to both dictate play and make late runs into the box, turning him into a complete midfield threat.

Losing Fernandez now would strip Chelsea of their midfield heartbeat and disrupt their attacking rhythm—especially with Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku already tipped to leave before the window closes. Sanctioning his sale could spark unrest among fans and raise doubts over the club’s ambitions.

Even so, in the era of strict financial rules, €150 million is a sum few clubs could ignore. With the transfer deadline approaching, the next move from Chelsea will be telling. Holding firm would signal their intent to compete for top honours; accepting PSG’s bid could mark a seismic shift in the club’s direction for the new season.

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Sport

Benue Governor Honours Super Falcons Star Francisca Ordega with ₦50m, House, and Street Naming

Published

3 days ago

August 8, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has rewarded Super Falcons forward Francisca Ordega with ₦50 million, a three-bedroom apartment in Makurdi, and the naming of a street in her honour, in recognition of her role in Nigeria’s historic triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The gesture comes two weeks after the Super Falcons secured their 10th WAFCON title with a dramatic 3–2 victory over Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses in Rabat.

At a ceremony in the state capital on Friday, Governor Alia commended Ordega’s exceptional contribution to the win, describing her as a source of pride for Benue and an inspiration to aspiring athletes.

“Francisca Ordega has made Benue State and Nigeria proud. Her commitment, discipline, and talent deserve to be celebrated. This is our little way of saying thank you,” the governor said.

Ordega, who hails from Gboko Local Government Area, is a decorated Nigerian international currently playing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad Club. She has represented the Super Falcons at multiple FIFA Women’s World Cups and African Women’s Championships, cementing her place as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished female footballers.

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