Latest news with #Rioux
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida basketball's Olivier Rioux signs with NBA agent, eyes growth on and off the court
Florida basketball player Olivier Rioux, the Gators' 7-foot-9-inch center, has taken a key step in his basketball and branding journey, signing this week with Athletes in Power Sports Management, according to On3's Keith Niebuhr. Athletes in Power Sports Management is a global agency led by certified NBA agent and former UMass coach Peter Yannopoulos. Yannopoulos, a Montreal native with decades of experience in basketball, media and marketing, is the president and founding partner of the agency. He's known Rioux since he was just 12 years old. "I've been following Olivier since he was 12 years old here in Montreal," Yannopoulos said. "We're both from the same city and I've been involved with basketball for over 30 years. Ollie was 7-foot-3 when he was like 13 years old. Just followed his trajectory. Got to know his parents. And his brother. And just built a relationship that way and just supported him along his journey. He just kept getting better and better and we stayed close over the years." Yannopoulos continued, "We decided to collaborate together and Ollie said he wanted me to represent him. It's a great fit both ways." Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Athletes in Power's mission is to "empower athletes globally by providing exceptional representation, career development, and personalized support that aligns athletic and financial potential." With Rioux, Yannopoulos sees an opportunity to do exactly that. Last year, Rioux took a developmental redshirt season, serving on the Gators' scout team. Though Florida returns a deep frontcourt from its 2025 national championship team–including Alex Condon, Rueben Chinyelu and Micah Handlogten–those around Rioux believe more opportunities on the court are coming. Off the court, his agency is already working on brand partnerships. "We are currently working with a couple of brands, trying to identify some partnerships that really align with Ollie's values," Yannopoulos said. "He's somebody that's very proud of his hometown here in Montreal and in Canada. He wants to work with some companies there and also North America." Rioux became internationally known for his height, setting a Guinness World Record for being the world's tallest teenager. But Yannopoulos believes Rioux's value goes far beyond that. "Ollie is a unique talent," Yannopoulos said. "He's very tall but he's a very skilled and talented basketball player and athlete who just keeps getting better and better." Yannopoulos went on to say, "A lot of brands want to associate themselves with a rising talented player like Ollie. I can tell you Ollie's brand is growing every single day." With his combination of size, personality and potential, Rioux is positioned to become one of the most marketable young athletes in college basketball. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Morocco World
12-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AFD General Director: Morocco's Southern Provinces Deserve More Foreign Investment
Rabat – France Development Agency (AFD) General Director Remy Rioux has renewed the importance of Morocco's development projects in the country's southern provinces in Laayoune and Dakhla, noting that these regions deserve investment from development institutions like the French agency. 'These dynamics highlight the potential for regional cooperation,' he said, citing several sectors like the blue economy, port greening, renewable energies, job creation, and water and sanitation infrastructure. 'The AFD Group has expressed its readiness to ambitiously support sustainable and inclusive development in these regions for the benefit of their inhabitants,' Rioux said as he concluded his four-day visit to the region. The visit is the first mission by an AFD Director General to Morocco's southern provinces, AFD said in a statement, noting that Rioux held several meetings with senior officials from the government in Rabat as well as local administrations in southern provinces. He met in Rabat with Morocco's Minister of Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Morocco's Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita, and Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit. 'These meetings reaffirmed AFD's support for Morocco's advanced regionalization,' AFD said. In addition to the government, Rioux also held talks with executives from several institutions, like Omar Lahlou, Governor of the Communal Infrastructure Fund, as well as the leadership of Morocco's fertilizer giant OCP. He further met with the executives from the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University-affiliated African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), which specializes in sustainable agriculture, desertification control, and the development of the camel sector. 'Discussions with researchers and local actors emphasized the need to develop innovative solutions tailored to the region's fragile ecosystem, particularly in water management and sustainable agriculture.' Following several meetings with local officials in Dakhla, the French delegation visited major projects like the construction site of the major Dakhla Atlantic port and the ANP fishing port of the city. AFD's final statement on Rioux's delegation visit comes a few days after the French agency reaffirmed its commitment to making major investments of €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces. ' AFD Group will now invest in the southern regions by bringing in investments and financing,' Rioux told the press last week, noting that he was 'very impressed' by the investments and the quality of infrastructure the region has seen in recent years. AFD's interest in the region comes in line with France's newfound position, with Paris having recognized Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Ya Biladi
11-05-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
AFD pledges €150 million for development in Morocco's southern provinces
The French Development Agency (AFD) plans to invest around €150 million in Morocco's southern provinces, announced its Director General, Rémy Rioux, on Saturday in Laayoune. This initiative marks a new phase for the AFD, which is now seeking to support the development of a region with significant potential. During his working visit, Rioux met with several local officials, including the Wali of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, Abdeslam Bekrate, as well as the presidents of the regional and municipal councils. He praised the investments already made and the quality of local infrastructure, emphasizing their role in job creation and responding to the aspirations of the youth. Rioux also expressed his admiration for the region's current momentum, particularly the emergence of private enterprises and the development of industrial zones. He noted that upcoming AFD funding will aim to support local economic actors by offering practical and tailored solutions. He also highlighted the strengthened partnership between the AFD and the OCP Group, particularly in applied research and efforts to decarbonize the agricultural value chain. A major financing agreement in this field was recently signed in Rabat. The French delegation attended presentations on regional and local development programs, part of the new development model for the southern provinces launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015. They also visited several social, educational, and economic projects, including the port of Laayoune and the African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), affiliated with UM6P. This visit is part of the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership between Morocco and France and reflects their shared commitment to promoting inclusive and sustainable development across the Kingdom.
Morocco World
09-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
AFD Chief Heads to Moroccan Sahara, Implements France's New Position
Doha – The Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD), Rémy Rioux, announced Friday he will visit Morocco's southern provinces. This trip puts into action France's new stance on Western Sahara. Rioux made the announcement at a press briefing today in Rabat after meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Rioux framed his visit within the context of the Joint Declaration signed in October 2024 between King Mohammed VI and French President Emmanuel Macron. 'You'll remember that on this occasion, President Emmanuel Macron expressed France's new position on the southern provinces,' Rioux stated. His current mission, he added, represents the 'rapid operationalization' of this strategic direction. The AFD head confirmed his mandate now extends to the southern provinces. 'I'm going tomorrow to Laâyoune and Sunday and Monday to Dakhla,' he said. This marks a concrete step in fulfilling commitments made by Paris. 'The southern provinces form a strategic link with sub-Saharan Africa along the Atlantic facade,' Rioux noted, describing it as 'a very important framework for action' for the AFD group. The AFD chief praised the solid partnership between Morocco and France. He affirmed that Morocco remains the group's top partner worldwide. 'Morocco represents more than 3 billion euros in ongoing projects, over 30 billion dirhams, 70 projects underway,' he disclosed. Rioux added that 80 AFD staff work on the ground in Morocco, which he called 'obviously very important.' His visit is part of the Enhanced Exceptional Partnership between the two countries. It reflects their shared desire to strengthen already rich bilateral cooperation and support inclusive and sustainable development across all regions of Morocco. His comments build on a November 2024 statement when he first revealed AFD's plans for the region. 'The AFD group will now invest in the Sahara, a link between Morocco and its neighboring countries,' he declared then, according to Challenge magazine. Read also: AFD Report: Rhamna Community Embraces Traditional Skills to Boost Employment After Devastating Al Haouz Quake At that time, Rioux talked about the 'pan-African' approach shared by AFD and Morocco to strengthen ties across the continent. He pointed out that AFD's expansion into the Sahara shows the institution's commitment to supporting Morocco as a regional leader in Africa through economic and environmental initiatives. In fact, France had shown interest in Morocco's southern provinces even before its official July 2024 recognition. In April of that year, French Trade Minister Franck Riester confirmed an AFD subsidiary could help finance a high-voltage line between Dakhla and Casablanca during his two-day visit to Morocco. This development dealt a blow to the Polisario Front and its main backer, Algeria, at the time. Shortly after, the UN clarified that it does not monitor economic investments in the region, undermining separatist claims that such initiatives breach international law. Paris has turned diplomatic statements into concrete actions on multiple fronts. Last month, the Occitanie region became the first French region to partner with Morocco's Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region. The European country also expanded visa services to Laayoune residents and updated its official maps to show Western Sahara as part of Morocco, including a recent naval mission map. During his October visit, Macron told Morocco's parliament the 2007 Autonomy Plan is 'the only basis for a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution' and that 'the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.' 'Our operators and businesses will support the development of these territories through investments, sustainable initiatives, and solidarity for the benefit of local populations,' he said in his speech. Last month, the Quai d'Orsay reaffirmed France's 'unchangeable' position. Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called the autonomy initiative the 'sole basis' for reaching a political solution, noting growing international consensus for Morocco's plan.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
7-foot-9 Florida center Olivier Rioux goes viral after unique approach cutting down net
Even in a game of modern giants, University of Florida freshman Olivier Rioux stands tall. The Canadian center, now listed at 7-foot-9, caught college basketball fans' attention watching the Gators win the SEC Championship following the game when he stepped up to cut down a piece of the net. Where his peers and coaches used a ladder, Rioux stood on the floor, reaching up with a pair of scissors. Advertisement Known as the tallest teenager in the world, Rioux was cheered by the Florida-affiliated people who surrounded him as he got a piece of the twine. Watch here, courtesy of the SEC Network: Florida men's basketball beat Tennessee 86-77 to win the SEC championship on Sunday, finishing the season 30-4 and shifting its focus to March Madness. Rioux is redshirting this season, and when he plays next year, he will be the tallest in Div. I history, according to ESPN. He's long been the tallest player on the court. Take a look back at his growth and prep years: Olivier Rioux in school By the age of 8, Rioux was 6-foot-1 and playing basketball. He reached 6-foot-11 in sixth grade and hit the 7-foot mark in the summer before seventh grade. Much of his basketball education came under Pascal Jobin, who coached at Cégep Édouard Montpetit and McGill University, Rioux told USA TODAY High School Sports in December 2023. Advertisement Much of Rioux's high school experience came on the international stage, as he played in the 2021 FIBA U16 Americas Championship, 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup, 2023 U18 FIBE AmeriCup and 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup, according to his Florida bio. He played at IMG Academy, where he split time between the IMG Varsity Blue roster and the program's national team. Here are international stats listed on his Florida bio: 2021 FIBA U16 Americas Championship: 8.3 points and 10.3 rebounds over six games 2022 FIBA U17 World Cup: 2.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game 2023 FIBA U19 World Cup: 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in five appearances 2023 U18 FIBA AmeriCup: 4.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, helping Canada win a bronze medal This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: Florida's 7-foot-9 Olivier Rioux doesn't need a ladder to cut down net
