All-Africa Games Set to Open This Week -- Monday Memo

(ATR)The 2015 All-Africa Games are set to take place Sept. 4-19 in Brazzaville, Congo.

The event will mark the 50th anniversary of the games. Brazzaville hosted the first-ever All-Africa Games in 1965.

Political and civil turmoil in the country of Burundi is looming over the All-Africa Games. The decision last spring of the incumbent president, Pierre Nkurunziza, to run for a third term tipped the country into civil turmoil.

Francs Jeux speaks withTharcisse Harerimana, the director of the National Olympic Committee of Burundi programs, abouthow this crisis may affect the All-Africa Games.

"It is obviously very difficult. Athletes still in Burundi face daily difficulties to train,"Harerimana says.

The sports leader also says that a solidarity program, established by the IOC, is providing financial assistance to athletes who are now preparing for the All-Africa Games in cities like Kigali and Kampala.

2022 Commonwealth Games Host

Durban, South Africa, the lone bidder for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, will most likely be awarded the hosting rights for the event this week.

The Commonwealth Games Federation is set to announce the official host for the 2022 edition of the games on Sept. 2.

Last week, the Cabinet of South Africa approved Durban's 2022 bid. This will mark the first time that Africa will host the Commonwealth Games.

World Rowing Champs

The 2015 World Rowing Championships are underway inAiguebelette-le-Lac, France.

Some 1,300 athletes from 77 countries are competing in the event.

The regatta is doubling as the main qualifier for rowing at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The World Rowing Federation (FISA) is setting up competition in the French commune atLac d'Aiguebelette, one of the largest natural lakes in the country.The world championships conclude on Sept. 6.

Following the end of the world rowing championships, FISA will hold its congress inAiguebelette-le-Lac.

FISA presidentJean-Christophe Rolland has told media outlets that the organization will add four new member federations during the meeting. FISA currently has 142 members.

U.S. Open

The 2015 U.S. Open opens on Monday, Aug. 31, in New York at theUSTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

Marin Cilic is the defending champion in the men's singles event, while Serena Williams is the three-time defending champion in the women's singles event.

The 135th edition of the grand slam tennis tournament ends on Sept. 13.

Written byNicole Bennett

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