Beijing preps hit snag

Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) has been taken in the dark concerning the preparations for the next year’s Beijing Olympic Games by the federations of the five selected disciplines.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) has been taken in the dark concerning the preparations for the next year’s Beijing Olympic Games by the federations of the five selected disciplines.

According to games body Chef de Mission, Thierry Ntwali the concerned federations have not until today submitted their projected expenditure for the Olympics qualifier events.

The Olympics Committee directed its frustration to the federation of the five sporting disciplines; Paralympics, Athletics, Swimming, Boxing and Cycling.

The disciplines were selected earlier in the year to represent Rwanda in the 2008 Olympic Games slated for the Chinese capital Beijing. 

"We have not yet done anything as regards the preparations for next year’s Olympics Games.

The federations have not presented their final budgets for the preparations,” Ntwali said.

"Worse still, Rwanda’s participation in the games is not guaranteed because none of the athletes has qualified for the games,” Ntwali added.

Participations for the Games have not yet taken off as none of the athletes save for national 10000m icon Disi, has qualified for the Games.

None of the disciplines has attained the minimum qualification requirement for the games.

Commenting on the team’s feat, Ntwali said that the national Olympic body will be forced to request for invitations from the international body (IOC) if all athletes fail to beat the minimum requirements.

Despite none of the federations meeting the minimum requirements for the Games, the national Olympic body administrators are eyeing means of sending a bigger squad, a feat which is a little bit complicated.

The short listed disciplines will take part in regional championships staring late this year until May next year so as to meet possible requirements for the Games. 

Ends