AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) has expressed concern over the participation of the country’s teams in the July Olympic Games which will take place in Tokyo, Japan.
Boxing, athletics, judo and swimming teams are preparing to participate in the Games.
Two athletes have already qualified for the Olympic Games, whereas in other sports, athletes will have to meet the standards before going to Japan for the Games.
“There are worries the qualifying tournament will not be available, but we are waiting to see whether the number of attendees will increase or not,”Filbert Bayi, TOC secretary general, disclosed.
He said the TOC has received a number of names for participation in the qualifying tournaments.
He noted: “Judo has brought 15 names, there are as well 10 boxers, eight athletes and two swimmers.”
He stated: “In athletics, there are two who have qualified (Alphonce Simbu and Failuna Abdi) while Athletics Tanzania officials have said they are in the process of finding qualification standards for the other six athletes.”
“Although our concerns are where they will get the qualifying race, especially those on the field race which is now a challenge, we believe the sports clubs are still fighting for the opportunity,” he said.
He noted that the judo team, according to the judo governing body’s secretary general, Innocent Malllya, would be heading to the Africa Nations tournament in Morocco in search of standards.
“Boxers will also competing in France, but if they could, they would reduce the number of teams they want to take to the qualification and have at least four people who will fit them well for international competition,” he said.
Tanzania will participate in the Olympics this season with a record of winning two medals at the Games since Tanganyika’s independence in 1961, the medals were won in 1980 at the Moscow Olympics.
