Tanzanian sportsmen and women ready for Olympic Games
Tanzanian long-distance runner, Alphonce Simbu
What you need to know:
- All preparations ahead of the Games are complete, saying that the committee has already secured sportsmen’s and women’s kits to be used during the multisport event.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) has announced that Tanzania’s contingent for the Paris Olympic Games will depart the country in batches.
The first group will leave on July 22, led by the head of the contingent, Henry Tandau.
The second group will leave on July 23, and the final one, consisting of four long distance runners, will depart on August 7, ahead of the Games that will run from July 27 to August 11.
Explaining the reason behind the staggered departure of the team, which consists of four athletes, two swimmers, and one judoka, Tandau, who is the TOC vice president, said it was due to the issues of ticket booking and arrangements by the organizers in France.
"The head of the contingent needs to arrive early in order to make arrangements for the team when they arrive at the Olympic village.
“Also, the booking of tickets for our athletes has contributed to the team leaving in groups," he said.
Tanzania will be represented by seven athletes including swimmers Collins Saliboko and Sophia Latiff, without forgetting judoka Andrew Mlugu as they have been given the chance to feature in the Games through universality places.
The runners, who have secured Olympic qualifying marks, are Jackline Sakilu, Magdalena Shauri, Alphonce Simbu, and Gabriel Geay, who will compete in a marathon.
According to Tandau, the contingent will also comprise three coaches, the team’s doctor, and a journalist.
"Additionally, Sports Minister and his Deputy, along with TOC president Gulam Rashid and the latter’s Secretary-General, Filbert Bayi, will attend the Games and various meetings," he confirmed.
He added that all preparations ahead of the Games are complete, saying that the committee has already secured sportsmen’s and women’s kits to be used during the multisport event.
“All sportswear is now in Paris. This is today that we do not have any challenges on that. We have sponsors who have already completed their tasks,” he said.
Tandau also mentioned that a send-off for Team Tanzania will be held this Friday at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania has so far won two Olympic medals through Suleiman Nyambui and Filbert Bayi at the 1980 Moscow Games.
