Despite Team Tanzania failing to shine at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland this year, the government has assured sports associations its firm support in other forthcoming international sports events.
Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Bernard Membe, said this in Kibaha, Coast Region, on Wednesday after receiving assessment reports of the team’s participation in the Games held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 3.
He said despite Team Tanzania returning home empty handed, the government will continue to provide support, as it did when the country was preparing for the Games by sending athletes abroad for intensive training through a ‘Sports Diplomacy’ initiated by his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports.
He said since the government had engaged itself in the athletes’ preparations, he submitted a report to President Jakaya Kikwete after the Games in which he stated that the team failed to win a medal as envisaged.
“The president said the result should not break our hearts and there is no turning back … we will continue with our support,” Membe said.
He added that his ministry will continue sending athletes abroad for training through the sports diplomacy and in collaboration with other ministries, especially the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, they will make sure more is done by investing in sports to ensure the country gets the desirable results.
“The government will look into ways to assist sports associations and athletes to get sponsorships from companies which are investing in the country as sponsorship has been a long outcry of most of the associations,” he said. “We need to ensure that our athletes get adequate professional training to attain our goals,” he added.
Membe also promised sports associations and athletes that the government will support the country’s preparations for the forthcoming 11th All Africa Games scheduled to take place in Congo Brazzaville next year.
“We promised the president to bring medals from the Glasgow Games but, unfortunately, we failed due to various circumstances. We haven’t lost hope and we’ll do everything possible to support preparations for the All-Africa Games, to ensure we win medals for our president before he completes his term in office,” Membe said.
Tanzania has not been doing well in international sports arena and has failed to win medals for quite some time. Speaking at the same occasion, Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) Secretary General Filbert Bayi acknowledge the government support in the Club Games preparations and for facilitating the assessment report discussion attended by sports association leaders and athletes who represented the country in Glasgow held at Filbert Bayi Sports Complex hall.
Thirty-nine athletes represented Tanzania in the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games in Scotland where around 4,950 athletes from 71 different nations and territories competed in 18 different sports.
By BETRAM LENGAMA, Tanzania Daily News