AIPS President Merlo arrives for SWAG Awards

Gianni Merlo, President of the Association of International Press for Sports (AIPS) is expected to arrive in Accra on Thursday, June 7 for the 37th Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards Night.
The Italian, head of the global body for Sports Journalists, is the Special Guest of Honour for the ceremony billed for June 9 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra.
A statement issued from the SWAG Secretariat said the AIPS President is expected to land at the Kotoka International Airport at 2000h GMT, and would be expected to speak on the media and the Olympic Games, Sports Betting and the role of the Sports Journalists at the Awards Night.
Also billed to grace the event are Mitchell Obi (Nigeria) and Evelyn Watta (Kenya), both members of the Executive Committee of AIPS.
This will be the first time a high-powered delegation from AIPS will be gracing the annual event in its 37-year history.
Over 25 sports men and women drawn from several sporting disciplines would on the Night receive trophies, medals and certificates among others for their efforts in the year 2011.
The topmost award, the 'Sports Personality of the Year Award' has Andre Dede Ayew, Ajara Mohammed and Harrison Afful as the competitors, with Andre Ayew, Emmanuel Agyeman Badu and Harrison Afful also vying for the 'Footballer of the Year Award'.**