TOC secretary general, Filbert Bayi

The Tanzania Olympic Committee, TOC, yesterday unveiled a contingent comprising twelve people who would board a Heathrow-bound flight on Sunday ahead of the London Olympic Games expected to get underway on July 27 through August.

The TOC secretary general, Filbert Bayi, named the contingent that includes chief de mission Hassan Jarufu and team administrator Charles Nyange.

 Others in the line up are team therapist Abdullah Makalla, athletics coach Zachariah Gwandu, boxing coach Remmy Ngabo and swimming trainer Sheha Mohamed Ali.

The athletes’ list has Zachariah Mrisho, Samson Ramadhani, Msenduki Mohamed and Faustine Mussa, boxer Seleman Kidunda and swimmer Magdalena Moshi

The team would straight travel to Bradford University  for three-week training camp without allowances pending the approval of the budget of the Ministry of Information, Youth, Culture and Sports by the  Members of  the Parliament in Dodoma.

Bayi recently said his committee has submitted a budget estimates of 13m/- and $27,450 to cater for allowances of athletes and officials while in the London.

However, Bayi said by yesterday TOC has not heard any response from the Government in connection with the availability of the budget allocation.

Bayi said he is shocked by the Government’s silence on the matter. Earlier, the Government agreed to take    care of athletes’ and officials’ allowances while in London.  

He said TOC’s responsibility was to organise and prepare the athletes and all matters linking to upkeeps are on the shoulders of Government.

“The government knows that it’s their responsibility to pay for the athletes’ allowances while on national duty in the United Kingdom. The fact we discussed and agreed with the then minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Emmanuel Nchimbi, it’s astonishing we have been left at crossroads,” said Bayi.

However, Chief de Mission Jarufu said he believes that the Government is delaying to release the money due to the unapproved budget estimates by the   Parliament.

He said it’s possible that the Government could not release the allowances in time as they are used to have Olympics staged between August and September when Parliament has already passed the budget.

 “Unlike other Olympic Games, the London Games are being held in July which is new to many countries. You know we are used to having the Games in August and September, and maybe they planned to release the money after this budget,” he said.         

When contacted for his comments Leonard Thadeo, the director of Sports in the Ministry for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, promised to call back, but he never called and when the paper called him later he could not pick his phone.

However, he is on record to have   confirmed to have received TOC budget estimates and said his ministry is waiting for the Parliament to approve its budget.

He recently said that his ministry will dispatch to TOC the money once his ministry budget estimates are approved by the Parliament.

In another development, Bayi said Coca-Cola company will pay for the clearing of Olympic equipment expected from Japan to be used by athletes while in London.

However he could not detail the sporting gear and the amount of money Coca-Cola is to use to clear the materials.

Bayi also said Coca-Cola Company has organised send off party for the Olympic hopefuls to be held at JB Delmont hotel in Dar es Salaam. 

The deputy minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports, Amos Makalla, is expected to be the guest of honor in the flagging off farewell.