Latest news with #Olympics
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Thailand's Sawang Janpram, 105, oldest competitor shines at World Masters Games
TAIPEI: Sawang Janpram is in a league of his own at the World Masters Games in Taiwan – at 105 he is the oldest competitor and the only person in his age group. It meant that Thailand's Sawang was all but certain to win gold in the men's 100-plus discus, javelin, shot put and 100 metres. All he had to do was finish, and the former school principal reached the 100m line in his solo race in a very respectable 38.55 seconds. "I'm proud he's brought honour to our family," his 73-year-old daughter Siripan, a fellow evergreen athlete, told AFP. They are among 25,950 athletes from 107 countries at the two-week World Masters Games in Taipei. Held every four years, the event brings together competitors aged 30 and over from all walks of life for the sheer joy of taking part. This year's edition is more than twice as big as the 2024 Paris Olympics in terms of competitor numbers. Sawang, a father of five, began exercising at the age of 90, inspired by Siripan and a desire to avoid becoming bedridden like his friends. Three to four times a week, Sawang joins his daughter to trot on a beach near their home in Rayong in eastern Thailand. "I sometimes like to walk, sometimes run," said Sawang, peering at AFP through aviator sunglasses as he explained his training regimen. "Sometimes I do javelin throw, depending on what I have to do for competitions." Other times, Sawang said he just goes to the local market. It's proved to be a winning strategy, with the wiry centenarian winning more than 60 medals on the masters circuit. Sawang added four more golds to his collection this week. A smattering of spectators was in the stadium as Sawang competed in the shot put, his last event of the Games. Before the first throw, Sawang lined up with other sprightly shot putters in the 80+, 85+ and 90+ age groups to be introduced. Wearing knee braces, Sawang threw more than four metres on each of his five attempts, drawing cheers and claps from the younger athletes. Siripan, who also won two gold medals and a silver in her throwing events, joined her father on the podium after he received his fourth gold. "I'm so proud of my father that he can still do this and that he is strong," Siripan said. "People admire him wherever he goes." The next World Masters Games will be in Japan in 2027 after it was postponed twice during Covid-19. Whether he competes there or in another masters event will be "up to my health", Sawang said. Before athletics, Sawang used to work on his farm, where he grew durian and rubber trees. Now he just focuses on sport. "Excercise makes our life better and we get to meet friends who also exercise," Sawang said.
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
Canadian men's rugby sevens coach Sean White to leave role in July
Canadian men's rugby sevens head coach Sean White will leave his role with the team in July, Rugby Canada said Wednesday. The change will be made upon the conclusion of the first term of his contract, the organization said in a statement. 'On behalf of Rugby Canada, I would like to thank Sean for his hard work and dedication to the men's program and the work he did in developing our players,' said Rugby Canada CEO Nathan Bombrys. 'We wish him all the best in his future endeavours.' After a season-ending review, Rugby Canada said it was decided a change 'would be in the best interest of qualification for the LA 2028 Olympics and redefining the team's role within international men's rugby.' The Canadian men were relegated from the elite HSBC SVNS circuit last June.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
American Banjo Museum offers free admission to Timberwolves fans after Minnesota article
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — You may have seen an article floating around from a local Minnesota newspaper that states NBA players don't like to spend a lot of time in Oklahoma City and the attractions aren't enticing unless they would like to visit the American Banjo Museum multiple times. Now, the museum is offering free admission to Timberwolves fans. 'It's obvious the author hasn't really seen Oklahoma City himself,' said Johnny Baier, a banjo icon and the Executive Director of the American Banjo Museum. Baier read the article in the Minnesota Star Tribune. It states, 'Visiting NBA teams don't like to spend a lot of time in Oklahoma not a city their friends and family may visit with them, and the attractions don't really entice them, unless somebody would really like to visit the American Banjo Museum multiple times.' OKC Mayor David Holt also read the story. 'If you're some lazy sportswriter and you don't want to leave your your room at the Omni and you just want to pop off about the Banjo Museum, you know, it makes good copy, but it's not reality,' said Mayor Holt. It's true, the American Banjo Museum is a good time and it's famous. Celebrities often visit. Just last Friday, Thomas Lennon, who played Lt. Jim Dangle on Reno 911, stopped by to play and visit. 'Eric Clapton was here,' said Baier. 'Tim Blake Nelson from O' Brother Where Art Thou?' Also, the elusive Steve Martin is very involved in the museum. 'He's become an ambassador for the museum donating instruments and loaning us things,' said Baier. Kermit the Frog has also visited multiple times. His video plays on loop. 'You know, I've been playing banjo since I was a tadpole, but I have never seen anything like this!' Mr. Green said during the video. OKC Stores preparing to sell new items pending Thunder victory Now, because of the article, the museum is opening up it's doors to Timberwolves fans for free. 'And if an Oklahoma City Fan comes and wants to get free admission saying they're a Minnesota fan, the karma train is coming!' said Baier. While the American Banjo Museum is a staple downtown, there's more to offer. 'I'd love to think the American Banjo Museum is the only thing that somebody would want to do, multiple times, but in reality there's a lot of stuff to do here,' said Baier. Chad Huntington, the CEO of the Bricktown Water Taxi, said in the later rounds of the playoffs he starts to see more visitors coming from other cities. 'You can stay busy for a week here,' said Huntington. He would know. His team tells tourists all about the city while sailing along the Bricktown Canal. 'There's also food scene, there is nightlife, believe it or not, which NBA players do find,' said Huntington. He also mentions theme parks, like the classic Frontier City and Hurricane Harbor, along with the new beach and waterslides along I-40 at Okana. Not to mention, white water rafting at Riversport OKC. 'I mean, we're bringing the Olympics to Oklahoma City via Riversport,' said Huntington. Huntington also mentions the plentiful museums, like the Oklahoma Museum of Art, Science Museum Oklahoma, First Americans Museum, National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and of course the OKC National Memorial & Museum. 'If you come here with open eyes – you're going to walk away having a great experience,' said Baier. After the article, Baier sent in a response which the Minnesota Star Tribune published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Can the 2034 Winter Games help preserve Utah's quality of life? Here's what a former governor says
Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt has a long list of ways the 2002 Winter Games moved Utah forward, including the rapid rebuilding of I-15, and wants to see the same from the next Olympics. At an Envision Utah breakfast Wednesday in the University of Utah's Rice-Eccles Stadium tower, Leavitt recalled a moment from the finale of the 2002 Closing Ceremonies held there that made it clear the efforts were appreciated. 'The fireworks are going. The music is playing. There's smoke in the air and it was just fabulous,' he said, describing how a man in front of him suddenly started chanting, 'Utah, Utah, Utah,' before turning around and recognizing the governor. 'He was embarrassed,' Leavitt said, but then explained he no longer feared the impact of the Olympics. 'He said, 'Governor, I was against this. And I was wrong.' That's really worth remembering. There was a lot of opposition on the same basis. But they were wrong.' Hosting the 2034 Olympics and the Paralympics that follow for athletes with disabilities, and possibly more in the future, provides a way for Utahns to maintain their quality of life as the state grows, he said. 'We won't have the quality of life we want without the Games. We can have it using the Games as a catalyst to preserve it,' said Leavitt, who was elected governor three times before serving in former President George W. Bush's administration. In 2002, that meant creating an 'internal brand' for a state then associated overseas with John Wayne but little else, said Leavitt, now president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. The branding intended to put Utah on the map was part of a larger agenda, to make the state both a winter sports and a technology capital. Using the deadline of the Olympics, Leavitt said the state was able to make major transportation and other improvements. Hosting the 2034 Winter Games offers a chance to do even more, organizing committee CEO Brad Wilson, a former Utah House speaker, assured the audience of community and business leaders. 'I would argue that the 2034 Games, if we do this right, may be the biggest opportunity in Utah's history,' Wilson declared. 'This time we have more runway and we have the ability to engage the entire state.' The International Olympic Committee voted to give Utah a second Winter Games last year under a new bidding process. That gives organizers, who already have the necessary venues in place, two years more than they had to get ready for 2002. Wilson said unlike many prior Olympic hosts that have abandoned costly competition venues, the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation has been a 'much better steward' of the taxpayer dollars initially invested in the sliding track, ski jumps and speedskating oval. While those and other Olympic venues will need to be 'spruced up' before 2034, he said the Games can serve as a motivator to get Utahns to 'do the right thing' when it comes to issues such as saving the Great Salt Lake and improving air quality. 'There are some risks we need to lean into and be willing to take,' Wilson said, adding that Utahns should be able to look back at the lead-up to 2034 and say the community involvement 'paid off big time.' Last week, organizers began a 'listening tour' to find out what that involvement should look like. The private meetings, which started in Ogden, are expected to eventually be held throughout the state. Wilson said the job of the organizing committee is 'executing the Games and doing it flawlessly,' something that will require 25,000 volunteers. They're set to be selected in 2033, he said, with preference given to those who've shown 'a commitment to making our community better.' Envision Utah interim CEO Jason Brown said the nonprofit organization focused on planning for the state's growth can play a role in a second 'era of transformation,' helping to determine what progress can be made on priorities like housing, transportation, water and education. Growing up, he said having an Olympics in Utah made him feel like he lived in 'the coolest place in the world.' When the Olympics return in 2034, 'it's going to be a great time. I'm really excited for the Games themselves,' Brown said. 'But what I really hope we don't miss is this opportunity, this excuse, this chance and reason to make Utah everything that we really hope that Utah can be.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Special Olympics RI Summer Games begin Friday
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — Special Olympians from around Rhode Island will show off their skills this coming weekend as they compete in the annual Summer Games. This year's games will be held May 30-31 at URI's Kingston campus and June 1 at St. George's School in Middletown. It's Special Olympics Rhode Island's biggest sporting event of the year. Wednesday was 'Truck Day,' the unofficial start of the Summer Games. A trailer loaded up with equipment and supplies left the Special Olympics RI headquarters in Smithfield and was escorted by police down to URI. The Torch Run ceremony at the R.I. State House starts at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 30, followed by the Opening Ceremony at Meade Stadium at 7 p.m. However, competition begins earlier in the day with bowling at 10 a.m. Other events include track and field, soccer, powerlifting and swimming. See a full schedule of events here. SCHEDULE: Special Olympics RI 2025 Summer Games WPRI 12 is a proud sponsor of Special Olympics Rhode Island, and we'll have live coverage Friday on 12 News and right here on Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
