Category: Athletics

The short answer is no, he didn’t. Born in Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, hence his nickname, ‘The Jarrow Arrow’, Cram competed against the likes of Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett in what is often described as a ‘golden era’ of British middle-distance running. Nevertheless, he won his fair share of gold medals, starting with the 1,500 metres at the 1982 European Athletics Championships in Athens and, less than a month later, following up in the same event at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

Four years later, at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Cram defended his title in the 1,500 metres, having previously set a Commonwealth Games record, which still stands, in the 800 metres. Shortly afterwards, he also defended his European title in the 1,500 metres in Stuttgart, beating Coe into second place in the process. In between times, Cram had also won gold in the 1,500 metres at the 1983 World Championships in Helsinki and made his second appearance at the Summer Olympics, having finished eighth behind Coe in the final of the 1,500 metres in Moscow in 1980.

On August 11, 1984, in Los Angeles, Coe, Ovett and Cram once again lined up for the final of the 1,500 metres with all three having suffered setbacks, due to illness or injury, in the build-up to the Olympic Games. In any event, Ovett, the world record holder, stepped off the track heading out onto the final lap, leaving the two remaining Britons to fight out the finish. Cram accelerated down the home straight, but Coe responded immediately and led the field into the home straight. Coe sprinted away from Cram to win in a new Olympic record time of 3:32.53, beating the previosu mark set by Kenyan Kip Keino in 1968.

Interestingly, a world record for the men’s marathon was not ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) until September 3, 1983, when Kenyan Paul Tergat won the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2:04:55; in so doing, he beat the previous ‘world’s best’ ratified by the IAAF, 2:05:38, recorded by Moroccan-born American Khalid Khannouchi when winning the London Marathon on April 14, 2002.

Since 2003, the world record for the men’s marathon has been broken seven times, each time in the Berlin Marathon and each time by an athlete from East Africa. Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie broke the world record two years running on the streets of the German capital, winning in times of 2:04:26 and 2:03:59 in 2007 and 2008, respectively. His mark was lowered, to 2:03:38, by Kenyan

Patrick Musyoki in 2011 and, thereafter, the world record has belonged, exclusively, to the ‘cradle of humanity’, whose capital, Nairobi, lies at an altitude of 5,500 feet.

The current holder of the world record, Eliud Kipchoge, has won the Berlin Marathon four times in all, first setting a world record, of 2:01:39, on September 16, 2016. However, on September 25, 2022, less than six weeks shy of his thirty-eighth birthday, he did so again, covering the 42.195 kilometre course in 2:01:09. Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum set a new men’s world record time of 2:00:35 in October 2023 (tragically he and his coach died in a car crash near a high altitude training centre in February 2024 – 24 year old Kiptum had been training for an attempt to run the first sub 2 hour marathon this April). Of course, the IAAF has strict rules, relating to distance, topography, etc., to determine which performances can, or cannot, be ratified as world records. Thus, while Kipchoge ran the full marathon distance in 1:59:40 in Vienna, Austria on October 12, 2019, as recognised by Guinness World Records, his effort was ineligible for world record consideration by the IAAF.

The Olympics are almost a year away. And although there is still time before the grand sports celebration, savvy punters have already begun their preparations.

In this post, we’ll fill you in on the upcoming Games and explain how to supply yourself with a dependable betting platform via the Betsafe Kenya app.

Lifting the Veil on the 2024 Olympics

The Olympic Games are a world-shattering event that always comes with magnificent settings, unforgettable shows, dramatic moments, and powerful emotions.

The closest competition will be in summer sports next year. Preparations are in full swing, and test events have kicked off.

Of course, the organizers will keep all the celebration details closely guarded until the last minute. However, some aspects of the 2024 Olympics are already known, and we will now lift the curtain on them.

Olympics Place and Dates

The Olympic flame will be lit over the French capital Paris this time. The city’s major landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, will be transformed into splendid backdrops for the festivities.

Although the main action will unfold in Paris, nearby cities will also host the sports competition, among them

Marseille;

Nantes;

Saint-Denis;

Versailles;

Nice;

Bordeaux;

Lille;

Le Bourget;

Saint-Étienne.

In the coming months, the committee responsible for organizing the Paris Olympics will perform technical preparation activities. Their task is to ensure that the staff and venues are fully equipped and ready to hold various sports contests.

And here’s a glance at the calendar for some of the 2024 Summer Games’ essential events.

???? Date	???? Event
April 27, 2024	The Olympic torch will depart Athens.
July 14, 2024	Paris will receive the Olympic flame.
July 26, 2024	The opening ceremony will take place.
August 11, 2024	The closing ceremony will be held.

Sports to Watch and Bet On

More than 10,000 athletes worldwide will participate in the 33rd Olympics edition. For 19 days, they will fight for the right to be called the strongest in their disciplines.

It’s intended to hold hundreds of events in 32 sports, 28 compulsory and 4 optional. As decided by the Paris Сommittee, the 4 additional sports will be

Breakdancing;

Skateboarding;

Sport climbing;

Surfing.

As for the must-have types, the 2024 Games will feature extensively followed sports like

Athletics;

Basketball;

Rugby sevens;

Cycling;

Badminton;

Volleyball;

Boxing;

Football;

Water polo;

Tennis;

Handball;

Swimming.

You can check the complete list of sports on the official website of the Olympics. Also, you can find the event’s background information, detailed schedule, and the latest news there.

Downloading the Betsafe Kenya App

The Olympics will be both a bliss and a busy time for sporting and gambling addicts. So it’s vital to approach this period fully prepared and obtain a reliable betting application.

The Betsafe Kenya app, designed for Android devices, can be your trustworthy sidekick in your Olympic adventures. And here’s how you can get it.

Visit the Website

Go to www.betsafe.co.ke, select “Promotions,” and pick the “Download The App!” icon.

Click on the Link

Click the link found on the page, download the APK file, and install the app on your phone.

Open an Account

Open the installed app, create an account, and start playing without forgetting to log in.

Wagering Through the Betsafe App

Betsafe, with its well-thought-out layout and straightforward navigation, is an easy-to-use product. You can see it by checking our guides on the app’s core functionality.

How to Sign Up

The Betsafe registration requires minimal effort. To sign up, you only need to specify your mobile number registered in Kenya and a password of at least 4 characters. After filling in the fields, click “Join Betsafe,” and you’re done!

How to Deposit

Tapping the green “Deposit” button will take you to the page where you can fund your account either online or through the M-PESA paybill number. After indicating the amount, you must confirm your deposit by entering the PIN code.

How to Wager

Once you log in and have money in your account, you can start playing. To do this, study the bookie’s sports, matches, and betting markets. Then, select and click on the desired odds, insert the amount of your stake, and place your bet.

How to Withdraw

Money withdrawals are pleasant and easy for the app user. To pull out your earnings, tap the player icon, open your wallet, and pick the withdrawal option. Enter the amount in the appearing field and submit the request for processing.

Wrapping Up

Such overwhelming sporting events as the Olympics are not frequent. The following Summer Games won’t take place until 2028. So you can’t miss a chance like this!

The 2024 Paris Committee has already announced the sports in which international athletes will compete. So download a reputable betting app like Betsafe and enjoy the sweet anticipation.

To qualify as an Olympic sport, an activity must, in the first instance, be recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) insofar as it is administered by an international organisation, which is not governmental in the political sense. Recognition does not, in itself, guarantee qualification as an Olympic sport; chess, for example, is recognised by the IOC, but does not qualify by virtue of being wholly a ‘mind sport’.

Once recognised, an activity may qualify as a sport, a discipline within a sport or an event with a discipline. Either way, the governing body of the activity must submit a petition for scrutiny by the IOC. As stated in the Olympic Charter, eligibility criteria include being widely pursued in 75 countries on four continents, for men, and in 40 countries on three continents, for women. Any activity must also increase the ‘value and appeal’ of the Olympic Games. Further any activity that cannot adopt and implement the World Anti-Doping Code cannot qualify as an Olympic sport.

The Olympic Charter also states that the programme of events should be reviewed after each edition of the Games. Activities such as motor racing, which requires mechanical propulsion, cannot qualify as Olympic sports, but plenty of other ‘mainstream’ sports, including cricket, have come and gone down the years.