Lilongwe, Malawi, 1 June 2014: Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) official has expressed fears that the country risks punishment from organisers of Commonwealth Games following last minute changes to the Glasgow bound Commonwealth Games squad.
Moc President, Oscar Kanjala made the sentiments in an interview with the country’s daily, The Daily Times published on Monday.
Malawi was expected to send a team of 96 athletes, coaches and officials but due to financial challenges, government authorities directed that only 49 should make the trip for the games that will be held from July 23 to August 3.
Moc President, Oscar Kanjala made the sentiments in an interview with the country’s daily, The Daily Times published on Monday.
Malawi was expected to send a team of 96 athletes, coaches and officials but due to financial challenges, government authorities directed that only 49 should make the trip for the games that will be held from July 23 to August 3.
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Kanjala said the country’s allocation for the next Commonwealth Games to be held in Australia in 2018 would be under threat following this development.
“The consequences are dire as the organizers will likely reduce our allocation for Commonwealth Games that would be held in Australia.
They could have increased our allocation for 2018 if we had met this year’s allocation,” Kanjala explained.
He also added that the country would also face further penalties from travel agents and hotel owners for the late cancellation of tickets and room bookings that was supposed to carter for 47 athletes and officials who were dropped.
“We had made some advance payments and bookings. We might end up paying penalties following the late cancellation,” he said.
He defended the decision to drop 47 athletes and officials saying the decision was made following consultations with the country’s top government officials.
“It was not our making. We had to drop them after a lengthy meeting which involved Sports Council and Ministry of Sports Officials,” he said.
The 49 personnel squad that will represent Malawi at the Glasgow games has 32 athletes the remaining are officials.
Twenty of the athletes are drawn from the individual sports disciplines like, table tennis, weightlifting, swimming, athletics, boxing, judo and bowling while 12 are netballers.
“The consequences are dire as the organizers will likely reduce our allocation for Commonwealth Games that would be held in Australia.
They could have increased our allocation for 2018 if we had met this year’s allocation,” Kanjala explained.
He also added that the country would also face further penalties from travel agents and hotel owners for the late cancellation of tickets and room bookings that was supposed to carter for 47 athletes and officials who were dropped.
“We had made some advance payments and bookings. We might end up paying penalties following the late cancellation,” he said.
He defended the decision to drop 47 athletes and officials saying the decision was made following consultations with the country’s top government officials.
“It was not our making. We had to drop them after a lengthy meeting which involved Sports Council and Ministry of Sports Officials,” he said.
The 49 personnel squad that will represent Malawi at the Glasgow games has 32 athletes the remaining are officials.
Twenty of the athletes are drawn from the individual sports disciplines like, table tennis, weightlifting, swimming, athletics, boxing, judo and bowling while 12 are netballers.
By: Joel Chirwa
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