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COVID-19: 2020 Ballon D’Or Scrapped

Published

5 years ago

July 20, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The Ballon d’Or will not be awarded this year, 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the football calendar, organizers France Football magazine said on Monday.

This is happening for the first time in the event’s 64-year history.

The prestigious award, voted for by journalists, is an annual prize given to the best male footballer in the world since 1956.

Without forgetting that the other games were played – or will be played – in extraordinary conditions (behind closed doors, with five replacements).”

The final stages of the Champions League, from the quarter-finals, have also been rescheduled as mini-tournament featuring single-leg matches behind closed doors in Portugal next month.

FC Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messi has won the men’s award a record six times —- one more than long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo can still help Juventus win the Serie A and UEFA Champions League double this season.

But the Portuguese forward will be among several leading players who will miss the opportunity to contend for the individual honour. Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski reached 50 club goals this term and has an opportunity to win the treble.

Also, Messi became the first player in Spain’s La Liga to record 20 goals and 20 assists in a single campaign.

To fill the void left by the annual ceremony, France Football magazine’s jury of 180 will elect an all-time “Dream Team” at the end of the year.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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