Leocadia Bongben
9 January 2009
Adamawa Region has been chosen to host the Cameroon National Olympic, DIXIADES, 2011. With the relay baton now given to the Adamawa Region to organise event, there are hopes that the problems encountered during the maiden edition could be corrected.
It was observed that a number of things did not work out well during the first edition due to poor organisation and also because the edition was a trial.Sports officials insist that planning for the second edition should commence immediately in order to minimise the loopholes.
It was observed that water and feeding were some of the biggest problems for the athletes.Despite assurances from Gregoire Owona, Coordinator of DIXIADES, that everything concerning feeding and water was under control, there were still allegations that nothing really changed.
Some of the athletes from Buea were emphatic that everything was bad and compounded by poor feeding and no drinking water. However, one of the officials from the Northwest Region maintained that the food was improved considerately compared to the first days into the competition. He said with only six packets of water per day, athletes who were not competing that day were not entitled to water.
During a press conference, the Coordinator of the games stated that money was disbursed for water while taps were repaired in hostels where athletes were lodged. With no water in the hostels, the athletes were forced to defecate in the bush and even in uncompleted buildings on campus.
According to the athletes, they had to queue for long hours just to get a plate of poor quality food.Concerning the Olympic prizes, which was at the source of the strike on Sunday, the officials complained they have not been paid and that they were unaware of the amount.
Owona stated that the prizes for the officials envisaged was suppose to be given at the end of the competition and not at the beginning, but due to some problems to be solved, the officials were given their money after the strike.
It was against this background and the general poor working conditions, that the games witnessed a temporary halt on Sunday but resumed later.Meanwhile, the falsification of ages was noticed in athletics competition with more than 24 athletes forging their ages. According to the regulations, eligible athletes were expected to be between 15-23 years.
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