Tanzanian swimmer Ammar Ghadiyal (right) receives a return air ticket from Cosmos Group Chairman Muhammad Owais Pardesi as Tanzania Swimming Association secretary general, Noel Kiunsi witnesses in Dar es Salaam yesterday. Photo: Tryphone Mweji.

National team swimmer Ammar Ghadiyal leaves on Monday for the Olympic Games in London, the Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) secretary general, Noel Kiunsi, said yesterday.

He confirmed this when the Cosmos Group handed over a cheque for 2.4m/- to the swimmer for his trip to London to participate at the Games set to start a week from now.

Kiunsi said the swimmer was left behind in the first trip of Tanzanian athletes currently attending pre-Olympic Games training at Bradford University in Leeds, England.

He said the International Swimming Federation (IFNA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) removed him from the list of Tanzania athletes at the Games, but they have called him back after some athletes from other countries failed to confirm their participation at the London Games.

“Ammar is leaving the country on Monday for England where he will join other Tanzania athletes at the Bradford University for camping. We are very happy that Cosmos Group has donated money which will help him travel to UK for the Games,” he said.

In his remarks, Cosmos Group chairman Muhammad Owais Pardesi said his company decided to help the young swimmer so as to inspire to do great things in future.

He pledged his company sponsorship to sports development in the country, saying sports creates relationship, promotes good health and is also a source of employment.

The company believes that the young swimmer will help in promoting the country at the Games, he stated.

“As a group we are happy to be associated with sports development in the country and we will continue helping sports development,” he said, urging Ammar to work extra hard at the Games to promote a good image of the country.

TSA at the event handed IOC accreditation to the swimmer to enable him stay at the Olympic Games Village.

Ammar and Magdalena Moshi will represent the country at the games on solidarity ticket. Others in the contingent are boxer Seleman Kidunda and athletes Samson Ramadhani, Mohamed Msenduki, Faustine Mussa and Zakia Mrisho.