simplemind
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 10, 2009
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Dar es Salaam.
Local sports fans have been left crestfallen following Team Tanzania's poor performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
With the closing ceremony of the multi-sports event only three days away, the country's chances of winning medals are increasingly becoming slim as the number of Athletes being eliminated continues to rise.
It is another crippling blow to fans who were eager to end a 16-year wait for a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games.
"It's very disappointing that none of our athletes has managed to win a medal at the Glasgow Games so far," minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Benard Membe, said yesterday.
Ahead of the Glasgow Games, the country embarked on ‘sports diplomacy' to enable local athletes perform impressively in international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games.
Through the programme, 45 athletes underwent training in China, Ethiopia, Turkey and New Zealand under the auspices of the government. They were accompanied by 16 coaches.
For his part, deputy minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Juma Nkamia believes four cyclists who will be in action tomorrow, have what it takes to win medals in Scotland.
Tanzania has competed in eleven of the eighteen previous Commonwealth Games; in 1962 as Tanganyika, and from 1966 as Tanzania, following the union with Zanzibar in 1964. The country has had a good record in winning medals in the Games since 1970 when legendary boxer Titus Simba won a silver medal in Edinburg, Scotland.
In 1974, Filbert Bayi clinched a gold medal in the men's 1,500 metres.
Chanzo: TheCitizen