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Sports News of Monday, 24 February 2020

Source: www.mynigeria.com

NBA holds memorial for Gianna, Kobe Bryant

Gianna and Kobe Bryant Gianna and Kobe Bryant

Thousands of fans have gathered in at the Staples Center for a memorial service of the late NBA star, Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, tagged "celebration of life".

Kobe and his daughter died on the 26th of January 2020, aged 41 and 13 respectively, including in a helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of seven other people.

The other victims are Payton Chester, 13; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; John Altobelli, 56; Christina Mauser, 38; and the helicopter's pilot, Ara Zobayan, 50.

Bryant and his daughter were laid to rest in a cemetery in Southern California on February 7.



The date, 2/24, is symbolic. Bryant wore the number 24 in the latter part of his NBA career, while Gianna wore the number 2 for her youth basketball teams.

"#2, #24 #20 years as a Laker and the amount of years Kob and I were together," Vanessa Bryant, Kobe's wife and Gianna's mother, announced on Instagram.[CNN]

The proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, an organization that "exists to further Kobe and Gianna Bryant's legacy through charitable endeavours in sports," according to its website. [NBC News]