Accra, Aug 26, GNA - President, Jerry John Rawlings has been awarded the prestigious 'Olympic Order Award' by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for his meritorious contribution to peace, stability and sports promotion.

The date for the presentation is yet to be made public. The country would also soon benefit from a grant of $350,000, the largest single investment in Africa by the IOC through its 'Olympic Africa Project' for sports infrastructure and a mini bus. Mr B. T. Baba, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, (GOC) said this at the biennial congress of the GOC in Accra on Thursday.

He said due to, the untiring efforts of the GOC and the excellent rapport it has with the IOC, the country has just received scholarships to be used locally for two promising athletes, Samuel Adu-Mfum and Vida Anim.

"In the same vein, two coaches will soon benefit from coaching courses in Hungary", he added. Mr Baba said the GOC has made its presence felt on the local scene by pre-financing the camping activities of the contingent to the Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and also paid training allowances.

"As much as our resources would permit, we shall continue to assist the needy associations through the National Sports Council to enable them undertake international assignments". He said the GOC is resolved to work hard to achieve a high level of professionalism in the promotion of the Olympic Movement in Ghana.

"To achieve this objective, we have engaged the services of an Administrative Manager in order to ensure a better flow of information between the IOC, Association of National Olympic Committees for Africa (AOCA), International Federations and the GOC", he said.

Mr Baba assured the delegates that the GOC was fully prepared to meet the challenges of the future and intensify its fund raising activities, which are aimed at raising 200 million cedis for the All-Africa and Sydney Games. The various sub-committees of the GOC presented annual reports on their activities.