Ghana Arrives At Olympic Village

The Ghana Olympic team was formally welcomed to the London 2012 Games at an impressive ceremony at the Olympic Village in London last Tuesday.

The team took part in a special welcome ceremony organised by the Local Organising Committee of the Games (LOCOG) at the forecourt of the Games Village.

The Ghanaian contingent were joined by officials of the Ghana Olympic Committee and the Ghana High Commission in London for the ceremony which also involved the other participating countries.

Unlike previous Olympics Games where the atmosphere surrounding such an occasion was subdued, the ceremony was very festive with lots of fanfare and dancing.

Ghana’s Chef de Mission, Nii Adote Din Barima I, led Ghana’s delegation, and together with the Olympic Village Mayor stood on the dais as Ghana’s national anthem played from loud speakers.

Meanwhile, the three track and field athletes, four boxers, a judoka and a weightlifter have been fine-tuning their preparations for the Games for the past three weeks in three locations in the UK.

The trio of heptathlete Margaret Simpson, long jumper Ignisious Gaisah and sprinter Vida Anim took part in a local tune-up meet at Bricksfield, Plymouth, last Sunday.

Elsewhere, the national boxing team, Black Bombers, also arrived at the Games Village having rounded up their preparations in Cardiff. The boxers participated in the three-week International Amateur Boxing Association-organised camp.

Lone weightlifter Alberta Ampomah passed a special trial test which was organised by Coach Majeti Feti as part of her final training session at the Ivy Bridge Gymnasium in Plymouth. Judoka Emmanuel Nartey was expected in camp last Wednesday.