GOC Rejects Daily Graphic reports on gov't sponsorship for Rio 2016

Ghana Olympic team members at previous games

The Ghana Olympic Committee, G.O.C has countered claims by daily Graphic that “Government spent $750,000 on Rio 2016” during Ghana’s participation in the Olympic Games. 

The G.O.C issued a rejoinder to counter the story published by the daily graphic following a Press Conference held by the Olympic body on Friday, 16th September, 2016.

The G.O.C stated that “directly pay the athletes and officials’ per diems (that totaled about $80,000).”

Portions of the statement read ;

“The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) strongly rejects the attempt by Graphic reporter Ben Neequaye to cast the GOC in a bad light by falsely claiming that we indicated that “Gov’t spent $750,000 on Rio 2016”, at our Press Conference on Friday, 16th September, 2016.

The story lead also contradicted the headline which actually stated that, “The Chef de Mission of Ghana at the Rio Olympic Games, Chris Essilfie, has revealed that the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) submitted a budget of $750,000 to the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) for their preparations and participation at the competition.”

We state categorically that Rio 2016 Chef de Mission, Chris Essilfie, never said that “Government spent $750,000 on Ghana’s preparation and participation in Rio 2016,” at the press conference.

Indeed, at the GOC Press Conference last Friday, Mr. Essilfie clearly stated that the GOC presented an initial budget of about $750,000 to the Ministry of Youth and Sports earlier in the process, when the GOC’s collation of information from the various sports federations suggested that the Ghana contingent might comprise 25 athletes.

But, he added that the amount was reviewed downward after only 16 Ghanaian athletes qualified for the Games.

In fact, at the press conference, the GOC went further to indicate that they had received no money directly from Government, although they appreciated the efforts of the Minister that resulted in GNPC providing the $120,000 needed to pay for the athletes and officials’ plane tickets to Rio, as well as the further corporate sector solicitation by the Minister that enabled the Ministry to directly pay the athletes and officials’ per diems (that totaled about $80,000). “

"Preparations For 2020 Olympics begins now" - Sports Minister

Sports Minister Nii Lantey Vanderpuye

Minister for Youth and Sports Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has stated that Ghana's "preparations for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 begins now." 

According to the minister, his outfit plans to unearth and develop young talents from now, and camp them ahead of the Olympics as part of the ministry's efforts to improve the nation's record at the games.

This move has been necessitated by the recent poor showing by team Ghana at the Olympic games.

He made this revelations whiles speaking at the 29th edition of the Accra Milo Marathon held on Wednesday.


Nii Lantey vanderpuye said the Winneba Sports College is being upgraded to accommodate winners of various local competitions, to groom them for major events like the Olympics.

Preparations For 2020 Olympics starts now - Sports Minister

Sports Minister Nii Lantey Vanderpuye

Minister for Youth and Sports Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye has stated that Ghana's "preparations for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 begins now." 

According to the minister, his outfit plans to unearth and develop young talents from now, and camp them ahead of the Olympics as part of the ministry's efforts to improve the nation's record at the games.

This move has been necessitated by the recent poor showing by team Ghana at the Olympic games. 

He made this revelations whiles speaking at the 29th edition of the Accra Milo Marathon held on Wednesday.


Nii Lantey vanderpuye said the Winneba Sports College is being upgraded to accommodate winners of various local competitions, to groom them for major events like the Olympics.

Malik Yakubu wins 29th Accra Milo Marathon

Malik Yakubu after winning the Milo Marathon 2016

Malik Yakubu has won the 29^th edition of the annual Accra Milo Marathon sponsored by Nestle Ghana Limited. 

Malik completed the 42.2 km race in a time of 2:22.46 ahead of several former winners on Wednesday.

Previous winners Kassim Mohammed and Joseph Yandal came second and third with finishing in a time of 2:22.59 and 2:23.14 respectively.

The first price winner took home a mouth watering package including a trophy, GH ¢15,000 cash prize and products from the Sponsors.

This year’s winner Malik Yakubu told SASPORTS360 how he managed to clinch the first prize.

“I placed third last year so my target was to win it this year. I was really determined because of how close I came the previous year. “ he explained.  

 

In the women’s division Elizabeth Azuure took home the price for first position, with former winners Lariba Sakkah and Elizabeth Botsor grabbing the second and third respectively.

The 2016 edition of the Accra Milo Marathon witness high level participation with athletes from various parts of the country ; numbering up to about 9000 in total.