Whiff of 2024 Paris Olympics hits Dar
TANZANIA Olympic Committee (TOC) plans to stage a high performance tri- game competition that will enable the country to prepare a cream of athletes suitable for the 2023 Olympic Games in France.
The high performance tournament is scheduled to take place at the Benjamin Mkapa’s Indoor stadium in Dar es Salaam on December 16th and 17th this year.
The sports to be involved are athletics, boxing and judo, according to TOC Vice President Henry Tandau.
He said the three sports have been the country’s medal hopes for many decades.
“We are going to stage the tournament to get quality athletes, boxers and judokas and the best of them will be further developed for the Olympics,” said Tandau.
Tandau said they had their write-ups for International Olympic Committee about the project in which they have agreed through their Solidarity Funds to support the preparation of the athletes for three years span up to 2024 when Paris Olympic Games take place.
“In boxing we will have four boxers in each seven weight categories and in Judo we will have four athletes in each seven weight categories whereas in athletics 60 runners will take part.
“The idea is to get a cream of a few athletes whom we will develop further through the financial support from IOC’s Solidarity Funds,” said Tandau.
On his part TOC’s Secretary Filbert Bayi said the tournament is not national or regional, but it is high performance event aiming at getting potential athletes for 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
“Logistics for the two-day tournament are ready through which we will select the best athletes for Paris Olympic Games,” he said.
He said they are not going to pick any athletes who meet standards.
