Athletes threaten to shun WXC Championships

Two senior members on the national athletics team that is preparing for the forthcoming World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan have threatened to shun the event citing meager allowances.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Two senior members on the national athletics team that is preparing for the forthcoming World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan have threatened to shun the event citing meager allowances.

The two male athletes, who requested not to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, vowed not to travel to Amman for the world event which is scheduled for next Saturday, March 28 unless the athletics federation addresses their grievances.

"They plan to give us $300 as allowance which is very little, and on top of that, they’re saying we shall get it in installments, yet they are tournaments which are coming up, and they give USD 10.000 for participation alone.

They (federation officials) used to give us $2000 as allowance, but things have changed drastically this year’.
But the athletics federation Secretary General Appollainare Munyangoga expressed complete ignorance about the intended boycott.

"I am completely ignorant about what you are telling me. We (federation officials) are not the ones who give the allowances, it is the Sports Ministry,” Munyangoga told Times Sport.

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