Tokyo 2020: Mozambique dreams of taking 25 athletes to the Olympic Games

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Tokyo 2020: Mozambique dreams of taking 25 athletes to the Olympic Games

2:05 CAT | 24 Jan 2020

File photo: Lusa

Mozambique is hoping to take 25 athletes to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, according to the Mozambican Olympic Committee, but financial difficulties are the main hurdle to this ambition.

“The Olympic Games present a great financial burden and the Olympic Committee is not oblivious to the economic reality of the country. Financial resources are scarce,” Secretary General of the Mozambican Olympic Committee Penalva César says.

Six months from the opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020, Mozambique hopes to marshal 25 athletes in swimming, canoeing, boxing, judo and women’s basketball.

The International Olympic Committee allows its 206 member countries to be represented at the Games, even if their athletes have not qualified to participate. Since 1980, Mozambique has taken at least six athletes to the Games, almost always as guests.

“On a few occasions we have had athletes who have actually qualified. Maria de Lurdes Mutola is a case in point; she always qualified even reached medal places,” César remarked.

Mutola, now 47, won the 800 metres gold medal in Sydney2000 and bronze in Atlanta 1996, as well as fourth place in Athens 2004 and fifth places in Barcelona 1992 and Beijing 2008, when she ended her career.

With just six months to go until the opening ceremony, César hopes to exceed the number of places offered by the Olympic system, and promises the Mozambican athletes will “participate because they deserve it”.

In addition to sorting out financing, the secretary general of the Olympic Committee of Mozambique says the country must focus attention on the modalities in which it has the most potential.

Source: Lusa