Ghana international sports medal hope, swimming sensation Abeiku Jackson is leading a team of five athletes to the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games (officially known as the III Summer Youth Olympic Games) which takes place between October 6 and 18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ghana’s 10-member contingent was unveiled at the Sports Hall of the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday by the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC).
The specially selected team include swimming coach Jonathan Amoako-Atta, beach volleyball players Eric Tsatsu and Kevin Carboo (coached by Moro Mumuni), weightlifter Sandra Mensimah Owusu (coached by Nii Otoo Larkyne) and 400 metres runner, Solomon Diaffo.
Chef de Mission, Mr Evans Yeboah, gave an assurance that Ghana would return with medals following strong assurances he received from the athletes.
He said the GOC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the National Sports Authority, had put together good preparation for the athletes, as well as an attractive bonus structure, to ensure that the athletes were primed for success.
He disclosed that a gold medallist would receive $5,000 while silver and bronze medal winners would receive $3,000 and $2,000 respectively.
GOC president, Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah also told the young athletes that, having competed at the African Youth Games in July, they were no strangers to winning medals and must, therefore, draw inspiration from the exploits of their, compatriot Martha Bissah, who won Ghana’s only medal at the 2014 Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China.
Martha won gold in the 800 metres race during the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing after winning bronze in the Africa Youth Games that same year.
He revealed also that a sponsor of the GOC had also promised to pay an additional $1,000 to any of the medal winners.
The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Perry Curtis Kwabla Okudzeto, said his outfit had catered for the allowances, bonuses and competition attire for the team while the GOC catered for air tickets, competition and general kitting for the team.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
