Sports
UEFA Championship, Olympic Boost Travel in 2024 by 7% – WTO
By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.
Image credit: Opta Analyst
The World Trade Organization (WTO) says that the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, boosted international travel by seven percent in 2024.
Ohibaba.com exclusively reports that WTO disclosed this in its international trade statistics for the third quarter of 2024, released on Tuesday, February 2025.
Said WTO: ” International travellers’ expenditure in foreign economies increased by 10 per cent in Q3 2024, and in the first three quarters of 2024, global travel receipts were 15 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Growth is stabilizing after the post-pandemic surge, and visa-free schemes adopted throughout 2024 by many economies have benefited international tourism worldwide.
” By the end of 2024, international tourist arrivals had almost reached their 2019 levels, suggesting complete recovery for the sector, according to UN Tourism.
Travel in 2024 was also boosted by the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany and the Olympics in France, and Europe’s travel exports grew by 7 per cent from an already high base in 2023.
Many African economies recorded double-digit growth, including Namibia (+32 per cent), Morocco (+19 per cent) and Tanzania (+18 per cent).”
Sports
Manchester City renews Gvardiol contract until 2031
“As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted,” said the 24-year-old.
Josko Gvardiol has signed a new five-year contract at Manchester City, the Premier League club announced on Tuesday.
The Croatia international, whose previous deal had two years left to run, is now committed until 2031, with the option of an additional 12 months.
The central defender, who has made 122 appearances since arriving from RB Leipzig for £77 million ($102 million) in 2023, had been linked with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
“As soon as I knew City wanted to renew my contract, I felt straight away it was what I wanted,” said the 24-year-old.
Sports
Mancini is back as Italy’s national team coach
The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title.
Roberto Mancini has been appointed as the head coach of Italy’s national team for a second time.
The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title.
He has been preferred to another ex-national team coach in Antonio Conte.
Mancini is tasked with revitalising the Azzurri who have missed out on the last three World Cups, FIGC president Giovanni Malago said Tuesday.
Technical director Roberto Maldini, who reportedly threatened to resign if Mancini was appointed, has been replaced by Claudio Ranieri.
“Today we have a new coach and a new technical director,” Malago told reporters, announcing another press conference with Mancini and Ranieri on Wednesday.
A suspect has been arrested and confessed to stealing cash belonging to several Super Falcons players at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, just days before Nigeria’s opening match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The theft took place on the final day of the team’s training camp in Casablanca before the squad relocated to Rabat for their Group C fixtures. Players including midfielder Esther Okoronkwo, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defender Michelle Alozie and captain Rasheedat Ajibade reported money missing from their hotel rooms, with the total exceeding $1,000.
Okoronkwo had publicly alleged that cleaning staff took cash while the players were out of their rooms and criticised the hotel’s response to the complaints. Nigerian journalist and former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh later confirmed the breakthrough, stating that a suspect had been arrested, had confessed, and that full restitution would be made to the players while the law takes its course.
The Super Falcons, who opened camp in Mohammedia on 15 July, are now focused on their title defence in Rabat.
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