London Olympics 2012

Tanzania Olympic athletes who left Dar es Salaam on Sunday have arrived in London safely and proceeded to Leeds where they are training for three weeks before the Games get underway on July 27.

The team, made up of four runners, one swimmer and a boxer, has been kindly invited to use training facilities at the Bradford University.
Chief de Mission Hassan Jalafu said in a telephone interview from Leeds that the team arrived safely and described the training as good for the athletes who use modern facilities and well qualified expertise at the University’s high performance centre.

“We arrived safe here and all the athletes are in good shape. We hope our three weeks staying at this high performance centre which has top class facilities and qualified expertise will put athletes in shape of winning medals,” he said.
He also said the athletes are very excited with a 3m/- pledge made by retired army General Mirisho Sarakikya as a reward to any athlete who will bring a medal. He said the pledge is an extra motivation to them.

According to Jalafu, the team will leave the Bradford University two days before the Games start and join all other athletes at the Olympic Village in London.
The athletes will compete for medals in athletics and boxing while the swimmer will participate on solidarity ticket, ineligible for medal.

Besides chief de mission Jalafu, the rest of the officials and athletes forming the Dar Olympic contingent include team administrator Charles Nyange,   therapist Abdullah Makalla, athletics coach Zachariah Gwandu, boxing coach Remmy Ngabo and swimming trainer Sheha Mohamed Ali.

The athletes are  Zakia Mrisho, Samson Ramadhani, Msenduki Mohamed and Faustine Mussa, boxer Seleman Kidunda and swimmer Magdalena Moshi.

In a related development, Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) secretary general, Filbert Bayi, said he expects to board a Heathrow bound flight on July 25 to join the team. Among other things, he will attend the general meeting for Olympic heads.