Boxing coach dies at Paris Olympic village

Samoa's boxing coach, Lionel Elika Fatupaito, tragically passed away at the Paris Olympics village on Friday, following a cardiac arrest at the age of 60. The International Boxing Association (IBA) expressed its "heartfelt condolences" to Fatupaito’s family, friends, and colleagues, acknowledging his profound impact on the sport. Despite the emergency services' efforts, they were unable to save him, and the local prosecutor's office confirmed his death was due to "natural causes." The IBA praised Fatupaito's dedication and passion, noting that his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. Olympic boxing in Paris commenced on Saturday, with the sport now overshadowed by this significant loss. 

Russia criticises France

Russia harshly criticised the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, calling it a "massive failure." Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, on Saturday, detailed several perceived flaws in the ceremony, which was notably not broadcast live on Russian television.

Zakharova, who initially had no plans to watch the opening, expressed disbelief after seeing photos of the event. She compared the images to "deep fakes or photoshop," questioning the authenticity of what she saw. She criticised the ceremony for forcing guests to endure hours of rain without adequate protection, such as awnings or cloud-seeding, a technique Russia uses to prevent rain at major outdoor events.

Only a handful of Russian athletes have been allowed to compete in the Games as "neutrals," following the ban on Russian competitors under their national flag due to Russia's military actions in Ukraine. Zakharova also commented on the disruption caused by arson attacks on Paris’s rail system, which France attributed to sabotage. She expressed scepticism about the security measures, sarcastically questioning how many "spies" had to be involved for the ceremony to be deemed such a failure. (Agencies)