MINSEP Clarifies Public About Cameroon Participation

Owing to conflicting information about Cameroon's participation at the 2012 London Olympics, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Adoum Garoua on Friday July 20, granted a press briefing at the conference hall of his ministry to clarify the public on Cameroon's preparations for the games, the size and composition of the official delegation accompanying the athletes and the schedule of Team Cameroon's participation.

Preparations

Concerning the preparations, the Minister said the preparation took place in two phases; one at home and the other out of the country. The first phase, he said, began on June 6th and ended on July 3rd while the second took place in Scotland, France and Italy respectively and ran from July 4th to 16th.

Size of Delegation

On the problematic issue of the size and composition of the official delegation to accompany the athletes, the Minister disclosed that the Cameroonian delegation to London comprises 72 people, 33 athletes, 13 technical staff, 7 medical personnel, five administrators and six officials of the National Olympic and Sports Committee, representatives of the Prime Ministry, the Presidency of the Republic, a finance controller from the Ministry of Finance and two special invitees including Roger Milla and Samuel Eto'o Fils. There will be also a press officer for Team Cameroon. Meanwhile athletes will be given participation bonuses, Olympic bonus, medal bonus depending whether it is bronze, silver or gold and a daily allowance.

Media Coverage

Concerning media coverage, Adoum Garoua said Cameroonian pres organs will have to foot the bills themselves to send reporters to London. He also said during the competition, Cameroon's image will be marketed by officials from the Ministry of Communication, Culture, Tourism and Leisure who have acquired a 100 hectares-square piece of exhibition space at the Africa Land village at the Olympic village in London.

As for the schedule of the competitions as published in a document issued by the National Olympic and Sports Committee earlier published in Cameroon Tribune. Adoum Garoua was flanked by his colleague of the Ministry of Small and Medium-size Enterprises, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa and the President of the National Sports and Olympic Committee, Colonel Kalkaba Malboum.