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.

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2025

OCHEFA

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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).”

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Sports

Governor Adeleke Remodelling Osogbo Stadium to 15,000 Sitting Capacity

Adeleke expressed happiness at the involvement of several foreign technical partners working with the contractors to ensure that the new stadium meets FIFA standards and eventually secures FIFA certification.

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2026

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has commenced work on remodelling Osogbo Township Stadium from 4,000 to 15,000 sitting capacity.

In a statement , Governor Adeleke emphasised that the increased capacity will attract major sporting events to boost the development of all games in the state.

He commended the speedy and qualitative ongoing remodelling of the stadium.

“This is the way to finally integrate Osun into the mainstream of sports development in the country.

“As a sports-loving governor, I am eager to ensure that the Osun Sports Trust Fund becomes operational,” he said.

Sports

Former NFF chairman Ibrahim Galadima dies at 78

His funeral prayers are scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Fagge Juma’at Mosque in Kano.

Published

5 days ago

April 19, 2026

OCHEFA

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A former chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Galadima, is dead at the age of 78.

His funeral prayers are scheduled for Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Fagge Juma’at Mosque in Kano.

Galadima, who also held the traditional title of Galadiman Fagge, died on Saturday evening at a hospital in Kano, according to his younger brother, Abba Galadima.

The late administrator was widely regarded as a key figure in Nigerian football, having played a major role in shaping the sport during his tenure.

He served as chairman of the football federation between 2002 and 2006, a period marked by efforts to strengthen the organisation and enhance Nigeria’s presence on the international stage.

Sports

FIFA to introduce halftime show at 2026 World Cup final

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the development, revealing that the show will feature multiple performers.

Published

1 week ago

April 16, 2026

OCHEFA

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FIFA will introduce a halftime show at the 2026 World Cup final for the first time in the tournament’s history, with Nigerian artists potentially taking centre stage amid the global rise of Afrobeats.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed the development, revealing that the show will feature multiple performers.

The lineup is being curated by Chris Martin and the band’s manager, Phil Harvey.

The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, which will be temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium for the tournament.

Organised in partnership with Global Citizen, the halftime show is expected to be a landmark moment.

Infantino described it as “a historic moment for the FIFA World Cup and a show befitting the biggest sporting event in the world.”

In addition to the halftime performance, FIFA is planning a major “takeover” of Times Square during the final weekend of the tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

(The Nation)