IGLOC Chairman reports on the Beijing Olympic Games

The Chairman of IGLOC, Dr Patrick Coker who doubles as Vice President of the National Olympic committee has said in his report that the just concluded Beijing Olympic Games was a success.
He said when the IOC President Jacques Rogge was welcoming athletes and officials to Beijing he quoted from the founding father of modern Olympics–Pierre De Coubertin when he said “At the Olympic Games the important thing is not the winning but taking part”.
He also said that the Chief of Mission, Mohamed Kabba left three days before the main delegation who departed the shores of Sierra Leone on Sunday August 3rd. The delegation had to fly Kenya Airways when SN-Brussels insisted on Schengen Visa for Sierra Leoneans at the eleventh hour.
Dr Patrick E Coker thanked Mr Gerald Wilson of Kenya Airways and Ms Delma Dove-Edwin of Aureol Travel Agency and the team for their cooperation, understanding and assistance.
He said the immigration and Accreditation Courtesies in Beijing went smoothly and also the accommodation at the games village was comfortable despite adjusting to accommodate the boxing team stating that the training venues were very satisfactory likewise the health care facilities. 
The Sierra Leone boxer, even though he did not qualify earlier for the competition was offered a place only a week before the games when the Swaziland Boxer pulled out. His flight and other arrangements had to be made over the weekend by the Sierra Leone Ambassador to China  Abdul Karim Koroma.
During the flag raising ceremony, the deputy Ambassador Joe Conteh was also part of the Sierra Leone delegation whilst the minister of sports Dr Bah and the president of the national Olympic committee Henry Moore attended their scheduled meetings.
During the games, one symposium and three workshops in sports medicine and injury prevention were organized by the IOC Medical Commission for team Doctors and Physiotherapists.
The pre-competition training went on smoothly and assistance was given from the professional assistant Mr Ulric Caramba–Coker a Sierra Leone coach-boxer, who joined them-at his own expense –from London.
The next Olympic Games will be held in 2012 in London and the Commonwealth Games in India 2010, Dr Coker said he expected a better participation both in numbers and results.