Ghanaian sprinter Benjamin Azamati has called for conscious support for athletes transitioning from college to professional competitions, expressing lack of supports for preparations is the main reason Ghana can’t perform at the Olympics.
Azamati, a member of Ghana’s 4x100m relay team that qualified for the Paris Olympics, has been outspoken about the need for increased investment in athletics to help athletes achieve success on the international stage.
He told TV3: “Before my first Olympics, when I ran 9.97, I had to sit out for about a month before competing. If there had been support, I could have gone to Europe to compete because I was in great form. Unfortunately, none of that support came,”.
“I had to train on my own and ended up running my worst time of the season at the Olympics. Supporting athletes after college isn’t just about giving them money for food; it’s about facilitating their participation in competitions to stay in shape and build confidence before major tournaments. Without that, we’ll continue to see athletes perform well in college but struggle in international events.
Azamati is currently preparing to host the third edition of the Ghana Junior Olympics, an event aimed at discovering and nurturing young athletic talent on December 26, 2024 at the Legon stadium.
