The president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah has confirmed that he will be standing for re-election later this year at the general assembly in Tokyo on July 14.

In a letter to OCA executive members and affiliated National Olympic Committees, Sheikh Ahmad stated: “I will be offering myself as a candidate for re-election as the OCA president in the forthcoming general assembly.”

Sheikh Ahmad has held the position as the president of the OCA since 1991 as well as membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since 1992.

He was a supporter of Jordan’s Prince Ali eventual successful bid to oust South Korea’s Chung Mong-joon as the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) FIFA vice-president. In an apparent snub to AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam, who is thought to have FIFA leadership ambitions, Sheikh Ahmad announced publicly that all 25 votes which had gone to Prince Ali would also be going to Sepp Blatter in the forthcoming FIFA presidential election.

His letter to OCA officials and directors said: “It has been a singular honour for me to be elected president of the OCA since 1991. It has been a journey which I have cherished very much, especially due to the fact that I have received the whole-hearted support and cooperation of friends and colleagues.

“With your guidance and advice I hope to continue to serve the Asian Olympic Movement to the best of my abilities and capabilities and make the OCA one of the most active and revered continental associations in the world.”

Nairobi, Kenya has unveiled an audacious bid for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.

It would be the first African city to host the Games, should it win the bid.

Reuters reports a Kenya House announcement said Wednesday: “Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, speaking at the Kenya National House today, announced that the Republic of Kenya will be starting the process of pitching to host the Games of the 33rd Olympiad in 2024. If successful, these Games will be the first ever held in Africa.”

The host city for the 2024 Games will be elected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 2017.

Other African bids include a bid for the 2008 Games by Cairo, Egypt which was awarded to Beijing, and Cape Town, South Africa’s failed bid for the 2004, that was hosted by Athens.

A potential Bus strike during the Olympics may be averted after London Mayor Boris Johnson said £8.3m is available to pay off bus workers.

Unite trade union members want a £500 Olympics ‘bonus’ for working during the Games.

Transport for London refused the demand, order triggering the strike set to take place on Friday.

But money supplied by the Olympic Delivery Authority could see the action cancelled.

Mayor Johnson said: “I urge them (UNITE) to do the right thing by their workforce and by Londoners and get on and negotiate. I would say to those that are seriously proposing a strike that would be greatly disruptive.

“I say to them that cash is available but it is only available on the condition that Londoners are not disrupted and that there is no strike.”

Unite chief, Peter Kavanagh insisted more needed to happen before the strike was cancelled.

“We cannot call the strike off until we hear from the bus companies and we are persuaded that TfL is serious about resolving this dispute. With only 36 hours left, every minute counts,” he said.

“There are 20 bus operators – it’s imperative there’s a single forum to meet with the bus companies and TfL’s involvement is vital in order to secure a deal.”

The President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), cialis Lamine Diack, has claimed London 2012 chairman and IAAF vice-president Sebastian Coe could easily succeed him to the most powerful position in world athletics. However, the 77-year-old also added that a number of other candidates, including Ukrainian pole vault legend Sergey Bubka, could also take on the role.

Coe is one of four vice-presidents alongside Dahlan Al-Hamad of Qatar, Robert Hersh of America and Bubka, who is currently the senior vice president.

Diack took over as President of the IAAF in November 1999 following the sudden death of Primo Nebiolo and is set to stand for re-election later this year in Daegu, South Korea to extend upon his 12-year reign.

Despite this, Diack revealed that he thinks that Coe would be one of a number of fantastic IAAF leaders when he finally vacates the role, telling insidethegames: “Of course Seb Coe has the potential to be a great IAAF President.

“There is no question about this. He was a great athlete and he is London 2012 chairman. He is also a fantastic vice president and the role of a vice-president helps you to become the President.

“His credentials are superb. But it is not only Coe who has this potential.

“We also have Bubka as vice-president and there is no doubt he has the potential to become the next President.

“Al-Hamad and Hersh are important vice presidents too and we have other great people in our organisation like [Moroccan Council Member] Nawal El Moutawakel who has undoubted leadership abilities.

“Therefore I am not worried because I know that after me, we have many fantastic people that could become IAAF President and lead the organisation forward.”

National Rugby League club Canberra Raiders have appointed a new chairman after the long serving John McIntyre announced he would stand down from the role at the Raiders’ best and fairest awards night on Wednesday.

McIntyre, who had a three decade association with the club, will be replaced by current board member Dr Allan Hawke.

Dr Hawke paid tribute to Mr McIntyre and his wife Anita for their wonderful service for the Canberra Raiders and announced their legacy would live on within the club.

“John McIntyre has dedicated his life to the Canberra Raiders and is the longest serving member of the organisation,” Dr Hawke said. “He will always have a home at the Raiders and will continue on as Club Patron, a role his late father and Raiders founding father Les McIntyre held until he passed away in 2009.”