Ghana Athletics Association seeks Cuba/France assistance

Accra, Dec. 29, GNA - Professor Francis Dodoo, President of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) says his outfit is seeking collaboration from Cuba and France with coaching experience to enhance the technical capacity of the discipline.

He told GNA Sports that "we are in constant discussion with the federations in Cuba and France because they have great track record in that area and can help us improve our capacity."

Prof. Dodoo said the Association's sight for the ensuing year includes getting more athletes attached to international ones and to also fashion out more competitions to give them the needed exposure for future meets.

"Getting the athletes compete regularly is the best because what it means is that they get used to competing, improve and psychologically prepared and to be fully prepared when the big competition is here because they will have seen it all before."

The President cited Finland as the only country where track and field is the number national sport and said the GAA was exploring the opportunity of getting Ghanaian athletes to be integrated for regular competition.

Professor Dodoo said the GAA was determined to build on the female team's silver success story chalked a few months ago at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi for future competitions.

"This was a team that supposedly held no prospect going into the competition, but with determination and obedience to instructions, they came good and in essence, it means with much more attention, a lot can be achieved in future."

He said even though track and field succeeded at the Games, the GAA' focus to equilibrate the other areas of athletics remains intact, saying "it is our decision not to favour one area of athletics so we have set equal standards for everyone and that will be for all the disciplines."

Professor Dodoo said Ghana now has a fair opportunity to compete at every level because of the talents that is popping up in every area of the disciplines.