Ghana to participate in Canoeing at All Africa Games

Accra, April 4, GNA - Ghana will for the first time present a team t= o compete in Rowing and Canoeing at the 10th All Africa Games to be held from 3-18 September, 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The water sport is among the dozen plus disciplines that the National Sports Council (NSC) have entered for the tenth edition of the quadrennial games, dubbed the continental version of the Olympic Games. It will be the first time, Ghana will be participating in a continenta= l event as far as Rowing and Canoeing is concerned after the sport was officially admitted into the sports calendar a few years ago. Erasmus Adorkor, Chief Sports Development Officer of the NSC told GNA Sports in Accra on Monday that his outfit has officially communicated their desire to compete in more disciplines to enhance prospects of the nation hauling many medals.

"The move is to develop 91lesser-known' sports to achieve more recognition."

The Chief Sport Development Officer mentioned that Team Ghana has, beside Rowing and Canoeing, registered to participate in disciplines such a= s Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Disabled Sports, Judo, Table tennis, Weightlifting, Taekwondo, Netball, Karate, Hockey, Football and Handball. Adorkor explained that participation in some disciplines is subject to a zonal qualifying series, whilst others will be communicated in due course by the organizers.

He confirmed that Basketball and Volleyball failed to qualify at the zonal championships held in Abidjan and Abuja respectively, in this regard, whilst participants of Beach Volleyball and Handball have both qualified. The Black Meteors and Black Queens are also involved in the qualifying series for the football tournament.

Adorkor said his outfit's decision to register as many events as possible is to enhance the nation's chances of grabbing more medals. The Chief Sports Development Officer said they are awaiting response from the Games organizers on the disciplines registered to enable the natio= n plan adequately for their trip to Mozambique. With this arrangement, Ghana is expected to present its biggest contingent ever for the quadrennial Games. About 48 countries across the continent are expected to participate in the Games which will feature 23 sporting disciplines.