Focus on athletics for 2012 Olympics

WITH 2012 London Olympics just one year away, more focus is being centered on athletics such that runners could attain the minimum required times to enable them compete at the Summer Games. The Rwanda Olympic Committee vice president Elia Manirarora told Times Sport recently that the committee is doing its best to prepare athletes, who can acquire minimum qualifications for London Games. “It’s only a year to the 2012 London games. We are doing our best to prepare the athletes who we believe can qualify and represent the country “We have a big continent of athletes going to Maputo games in search of minimum qualifications for London Games. We are optimistic our athletes can be able to qualify,” said Manirarora. Manirarora noted that in October, the Olympic Committee will then put the athletes who will have qualified for London in training camp until next August. “Everything is going to be done in phases. From Maputo, we will be able to know who is qualified and then more emphasis will be put on those,” he added. Cyclist Adrien Niyonshuti is the only Rwandan who has so far qualified for London Games. The 24-year-old South Africa based rider finished fourth at the African Continental Championships in Stellenbosch back in February. Meanwhile, the All Africa Games contingent has been reduced to 113. The contingent includes 85 athletes and 27 officials, who include coaches, team doctors and administrators. Rwanda will be represented in; Basketball, Volleyball, Beach volleyball, Athletics, Boxing, Tennis, Table Tennis, Karate, Swimming, Cycling, Tae-kwon-do and sport for the disabled. Rwanda will be aiming at coming among Africa’s best countries with many medals after so many years of trying. In the last edition held in Algiers in 2007, Rwanda failed to win a medal. Dieudonne Disi came closest to the podium after a fourth spot finish in the half marathon. Ends