GOC briefs Federation Heads

The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has held a meeting with National Federation Presidents to plan towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The meeting focused on preparation and qualification towards the Olympics by gathering the relevant information pertaining to the Rio Olympics in order for the GOC to plan the way forward.

The GOC is also expected to brief the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as submit budget considerations for the Games at the end of the meeting.

Mr. Chris Essilfie, Ghana’s Rio 2016 Chef de Mission, who attended the ‘Rio 2016 Chefs de Mission Seminar,' in Rio from 17-21 August, briefed the federation presidents and gave them a detailed briefing to on Accommodation, Accreditation, Arrivals & Departures, Doping Control & Medical Services, Sport Entries, Ticketing and Transport.

He tasked the Federation Presidents to present a probables list of eligible candidates for the Olympics and also fill a specially designed Games Qualification Template to aid preparations towards the Olympic qualifiers.

Mr Essilfie said, National Federations are to present the two documents to the Chef de Mission, adding that “The ‘Games Qualification Template’ form is to help us have a master plan and timelines on when to expect qualifications from all Federations.

"It’s also to help us track the progress we are making in terms of qualifying athletes to Rio,”. Mr Essilfie said.

“It will help us know what is required or needed to aid our preparations for the Games. “The data on the probable list of athletes is needed because there will be strict guidelines in terms of capturing data. It is better to collate the data now to be able to monitor athlete performance across the world.” He noted.

Team Ghana participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games and last won a medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

The GOC is expected to lead a team to the XXXI Olympiad to be held in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro from 5th August - 21st August.