The Scribe of the National Paralympics Committee of Sierra Leone (NPC-SL), Alexander Thullah has called on sports philanthropists and the government of Sierra Leone to come to their aid through moral and financial support to ensure their participation to the 2016 Paralympics Games slated for September in Rio, Brazil.
According to Thullah, preparations by the Paralympic team are on-going but the Committee does not have the financial resources to fund the delegation to the Games. He said as a Committee, their aim is to attend and compete in the Games but they are not financially equipped. And at the moment, the NPC cannot afford the amount of money involved in preparing the delegation for the competition.
“Unlike the Olympic games which give out solidarity funds for teams to participate, the Paralympics does not have any support from anyone. That is why we are calling on the government, cooperate institutions and the people of Sierra Leone to help us financially, so that our disabled athletes will be able to attend the Games and exhibit their talents in the interest of the country,” Thullah explained.
Thullah noted that it will be disappointing if the delegation fails to attend the Games because the athletes are in high spirit and are also highly committed to the games.
“It will be a big disappointment for the athletes and a shame to us in the Committee if we are unable to attend and participate in the games in Rio. The hopes of the athletes and the entire delegation are in the hands of the government and the people of Sierra Leone. If they fail to listen to our plea then we have no alternative but to bow out of the Games,” Thullah emphasized.
He said they hastily needed this support because it is what they will be spending on ticket fare, accommodation, uniforms and per diem for the delegation.
“I am calling on the attention of the government and sport philanthropist to think about our situation and render us support for this competition”.
“The good thing is that if all goes well we will be travelling with the 3rd ranked Africa Paralympics Table Tennis athlete George Wyndham to the Games as one of our star athlete. Who knows, he might make the difference for Sierra Leone by winning medals at the end of the competition,” he affirmed.
By Bernard Turay
Monday June 27, 2016
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