Gidabuday Sports Tourism Foundation (GSTF)

Ted Banks (Theodore Banks) was perhaps the most controversial but successful Track & Field Coach in America EL PASO, Texas - Author: Staff Report Published On: Aug 26 2016 12:57:27 PM CDT       Ted Banks, who led the UTEP men's track & field and cross country teams to a combined 17 national titles, passed away at his home in Gunter, Texas Thursday night, said Jeff Darby with the University of Texas at El Paso. Banks was 82 years old. He led the UTEP men's track and field and cross country teams from 1972 to 1981. "Ted Banks was one of the most successful cross country and track coaches in NCAA history," said UTEP track & field coach Mika Laaksonen.  "His tenure at UTEP is unmatched with achievement by any other coach." "He was at the forefront of track and field coaches when he was here at UTEP and certainly determi...

The Rio Olympics ended with a spectacular carnival-inspired closing ceremony, and the official handover to 2020 hosts Tokyo The colourful ceremony, lasting almost three hours, celebrated Brazil's arts and was held in a wet Maracana. Among the highlights were Tokyo's impressive showcase and a vibrant carnival parade. "These were a marvellous Olympics, in a marvellous city," said International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach. "Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life." Bach officially closed the Games of the 31st Olympiad after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team. One of the biggest cheers of the night came when Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared dressed as computer game character Super Mario, rising out of a huge green pipe in the stadium. The ceremony, watched by billions around the world, f...

Just look at his face: Bruno Mossa de Rezende (left) after Brazil claimed gold in the men’s volleyball final. Photograph: Johannes Eisele/AFP/Getty Images Brazil did not win a lot of medals; but Brazil hosted the first ever Summer Olympic Games in South America, western countries criticized all efforts put up by South American supper power but they did not bother listening instead they did all they could and today they finished strong. Thanks Rio, thanks Brazil. We hope that some day African Continent will rewrite history to host the first ever Summer Olympic Games. www.gidabuday.blogsports.com wishes all Olympic travelers a safe flight out bounding to their home countries. See you in Tokyo Olympics 2020, god bless Olympics Games. By Wilhelm Francis Gidabuday @gidabudays       

Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania celebrates his 5th place finish  Alphonce Felix Simbu is one of the three marathon athletes from Tanzania who competed in today’s Olympic Marathon in Rio de Janeiro, he ran a smart race from the beginning. He maintained negative splits serving his energy for the last; he kept himself at the back of first group full of determined athletes to the half way. Said Makula and Fabian Joseph were also present. The young Tanzanian placed 24 th right after the half way, the group surges for breakaway, Mr. Simbu did not bother but kept his negative splits instead. At the 35 kilometers mark he moved up to 11 th place beating up those who surged with the first group. He suddenly gained momentum moving up to 8 th place and finally compromised 5 th place at the finish line.  The 5 th place finish was historical; Tanzania has had only two bronze medals from Fibert Bayi and Suleiman Nyambui in the Stipple Chase and 5000 meters in 1...

Rio Olympic Games are about to end but for Tanzanians the game is just about to start, that’s because the strongest Tanzania team was in the marathon event out of 28 other sports of which we needed to have competitors but we couldn’t do so! Sara Ramadhani competed last Sunday and performed bad, today we have Alphonce Felix Simbu, Said Juma Makula and Fabian Joseph Naasi. Alphonce Felix Simbu WHO ARE THEY? ALPHONCE FELIX SIMBU DOB: February 14 th  1992 (age 24) Place of Birth: Mampando Village, Ikungi - Singida School: Winning Spirit Secondary School Highest Participation: 2015 World Championships - Beijing Said Juma Makula Personal Best: 2:09:19 – Lake Biwa Marathon 2016 SAID JUMA MAKULA DOB: August 1st 1994 Place of Birth: Kisuki Village - Singida School: Kisaki Primary School Fabian Joseph Naasi Highest Participation: 2016 Daegu Marathon – South Korea Personal Best: 2:12:01 – Daegu Marathon 2016 F...

Great Britain's Mo Farah won his fourth Olympic gold medal as he became only the second man in history to retain the 5,000m and 10,000m titles. The 33-year-old triumphed in the 5,000m final in Rio to extend his tally as Britain's most successful Olympic track and field athlete of all time. Farah won in 13 minutes 3.30 seconds as Scot Andrew Butchart finished sixth. "It shows I didn't just fluke it in London. To do it again is incredible. I can't believe it," said Farah. Farah's was Britain's 27th gold in Rio and their 65th medal, matching the haul at London 2012. They surpassed that tally when the women's 4x400m relay team won bronze in the penultimate track event of the Games. More history for Mo Farah cemented his place as one of Britain's greatest athletes with  his double success  four years ago, but repeating the feat makes him the world's most successful distance runner in terms of major medals. "My legs were a...

Tyson Gay , Justin Gatlin and Mike Rodgers of the U.S. 400-meter relay team.  (Peter Klaunzer / EPA) USA Track and Field’s appeal of the disqualification of the men’s 400-meter relay team has been denied, according to several reports. The U.S. quartet finished third in the final on Friday but soon afterward was disqualified because of a faulty baton exchange between leadoff runner Mike Rodgers and Justin Gatlin in which Rodgers passed it too early. Jamaica won, followed by Japan. Canada, which had finished fourth, was elevated to third following the U.S. disqualification.   U.S. officials filed a protest with the Jury of Appeals of the International Assn. of Athletics Federations. The rejection of the appeal was first reported by Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated, who cited an official of the IAAF as saying all protests and appeals were rejected, leaving all results to stand. Associated Press also reported the protest had been rejected.  Los Angeles Times...