Swimming
Athletes Still Committed To The Cause
November 11, 2004
By Julu M. Johnson, Jr.
Two Liberian swimmers have vowed not to give up in
their strive to represent the country in international competitions.
Blessing Kortu Ross and Patrick Chea said they are not
deterred by Liberia's failure to compete in the 2004 World
Championship in Indianapolis, United States.
The two athletes said they would have loved to be
among their compatriots at the World Championships, but their dreams
were ruined because Government did not provide funds for the team's
departure.
They, however, lauded the Minister of Youth and
Sports Counselor Wheatonia Dixon-Barnes for the "efforts she applied"
even though she did not succeed in getting funds for the trip.
The Liberian National Swimming Federation, headed
by S. Ahmad Tukpah and Attorney Sylvester D. Rennie, has also been
commended by the athletes promoting the sport in Liberia.
A delegation of the Swimming Delegation was scheduled
to represent the country at the 7th Swimming World Championship, but
to no avail.
Although the US embassy did issue visas to
officials of the delegation for the 2004 event, the failure by the
Government to make available US$13, 200 was largely responsible for
the delegation's failed travel to the championship. The tournament was
held from October 7 to October 11, 2004.
Liberia missed similar chance when the
country almost took part in Swimming World championship last year in
Barcelona, Spain, at the skin of her teeth, but the war on Monrovia
caused the trip not to materialize. |
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