Visa hitches put athletes’ Poland trip in balance

Rwanda’s junior athletes could miss this year’s World Youth Championship due to difficulties in acquiring visas, local athletics federation officials have noted.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Rwanda’s junior athletes could miss this year’s World Youth Championship due to difficulties in acquiring visas, local athletics federation officials have noted.

The 12th edition of the World Junior Championships will be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 8-13. The three-man Rwandan team that includes two athletes and their coach was scheduled make their trip last Sunday, June 29 but it didn’t happen after the federation failed to get Poland visas at their embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two are Adeline Musabyewayesu (1.500m) and Jean Marie Vianey Uwajeneza (10.000m) and Martin Uwimana, the coach.

However, sources told Times Sport that with three days remaining, federation officials have not given up the hope of securing the visas in time for the event.

According to International Association of Athletics Federations website, up to 183 countries including Rwanda are expected to take part in this year’s championships, seven more than the number that took part in the last event two years ago in Beijing, China.
 
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