Other Sports of Friday, 9 December 2011

Source: GNA

Agra outlines intensive preparation for London 2012 Olympic Games

Accra, Dec. 8, GNA – Director-General of the National Sports Authority, (NSA) Worlanyo Agra has outlined an intensive preparation for 'Team Ghana' ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Mr Agra said a comprehensive training programme was the best tonic for the ambitions of the Ghanaians for a positive outing at the 27 July to 12 August, 2012 Olympic Games.

Speaking at the Meet-the-Press Series on Thursday, Agra said his outfit has lined up a programme which includes internal and external training camps to fine-tune the team’s preparation for the 30th edition of the quadrennial multi-sport event.

The Director-General added that preparations are far advanced to invite and solicit the support of experts and coaches from abroad for the respective disciplines to sharpen the rough edges of the athletes towards the Games.

Ghana has targeted participation in at least six disciplines, namely athletics, weightlifting, boxing, judo, taekwondo and disabled sports at three-week event that will feature over 10,000 athletes from 141 countries.

Mr Agra assured that his outfit will ensure adequate preparation for the boxing and weightlifting teams scheduled for continental qualifiers next year.

The national boxing team will be in Morocco for the final Olympic qualifiers whilst the weightlifting team is scheduled to leave for Kenya in March for a similar exercise.

The Director-General expressed optimism in the abilities of the two teams to qualify an appreciable number of athletes for the Olympics and commended members of the para and disabled sports for their exploits at international feats.

Ghana was represented by a meager six athletes at the last edition of the Olympic Games in 2008 in Beijing, China.