Donate towards Athens Olympic games - Wiafe-Peprah

Kumasi, May 30, GNA - Mr Peter Wiafe-Peprah, Managing Director of Paramount Distilleries has called on Ghanaians, especially corporate bodies to donate generously to support the Nation's preparations towards this year's Olympic Games.

He noted that it is not that the country's sportsmen and women do not perform well at the Games but that at times the training facilities and equipment to motivate them are inadequate or non-existent. Mr Wiafe-Peprah was speaking at the launch of fund-raising for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games organised by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) in Kumasi on Friday.

He said there was therefore the need for all Ghanaians to be part of the event, dubbed, "Ghana For Gold" and to contribute either in cash or in kind to enable the sportsmen and women bring success to the nation.

"They need our support and encouragement as young men and women in all aspects, since whatever they get from the Games will not be for their individual benefit but to all Ghanaians who would all feel proud of the achievement", he said.

Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the Olympic Games provides a lot of opportunities for participants and it will also be a forum for unearthing excellent role models. This, he said, calls for young people to develop their talents and participate in such games.

Mr Seth Oteng, Technical Advisor of Doscar Travel and Tours, the official travel agent for the Athens Olympics, said the organisation was sponsoring the country's participation in order to help sportsmen and women participating in the games.

Mr Seth Klaye, Director of Sports One Network Foundation, said the era of the government alone sponsoring sports development should belonged to the past and that was why his organisation was supporting the GOC to find innovative ways of raising funds to motivate and prepare the sportsmen and women for the task ahead.

Mr Benson T. Baba, President of GOC in a welcoming remark, said the Games which takes off from August 13-29 at Athens this year will see over 1,504 sportsmen and women from various countries all over the world competing for laurels.

He said the preparation for the competition is not easy, adding that the athletes need to be motivated in their preparation for the games.

Mr Baba said the GOC was very grateful to the government and all sponsors for their support to get funds to prepare the contingent for the event and called on Asanteman to boost the moral of the participants through their contribution. 30 May 04