'Team Ghana' to bring home medals from Olympic Games

Accra, July 10, GNA - The Ghana Olympic Committee and the National Sports Council have indicated that they are cautiously optimistic that Ghana's athletics team, "Team Ghana' are capable of bringing home medals from this year's Olympic Games at Beijing, China.

"This follows the rigorous training regimen of especially the boxing team who are currently in camp in Cuba and following the discipline and determination of the boys, there is every hope that many more medals would be harnessed at the Games".

Mr Benson Tongo Baba, President of the GOC and Prince Ernest Oduro-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the NSC gave the assurance at a joint news conference organised by the two organisations at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium to discuss pertinent issues concerning sports development and to ensure media relations in the country.

Prince Oduro-Mensah said the exploits of the boxers at the last All African Games in Algeria and other meets gives the six-member team an encouraging hope that they can excel and bring honour to Ghana at the Games.

The conference outlined a collaborative pilot National Youth Talents Identification Games policy under the theme, "Ghana Youth for Olympics", which is expected to begin in December this year. The policy is envisaged to unearth and develop sporting talents among school pupils between the ages of 13 to 16 throughout the country by assisting to create a hub of young athletes towards the maiden edition of a Youth Olympics scheduled for Singapore in 2010 as well as for other major sporting events.

Prince Oduro-Mensah announced an annual 'Open Day' with the media to open avenues for interactions between officials of the Council and the press to develop forums for discussions, questions and solicit suggestions on the way forward to developing sports in the country at all levels.

Mr Baba said for the maiden Youth Olympics, there would not be any qualification standards but that it behoves on the various National Athletics Associations to set its own qualifying standards to choose the best athletes.

He expelled rumours against the GOC concerning the inability of some athletes to qualify for the athletics events of the up-coming Beijing Olympics Games, explaining that it is not their responsibility to organise qualifiers for athletes as some people erroneously perceive. Mr Baba explained that qualifying standards are normally set by International Federations whereby all National Associations (Federations) come together and agree on the terms to be used. The President said the GOC only supports and facilitates the athletes who qualify to participate in competitions after the national association make a request for assistance.