Are we ready for London 2017?

Officially, Ghana will have eight athletes representing her at this year's International Athletics Association Federations (IAAF) World Championships to be staged in London, beginning this Friday to August 24.

Of the eight, four are known -- Nadia Eke, Emmanuel Dasor, Janet Amponsah and Alex Amankwah -- with the remaining four, expected to be a relay team, but it is unclear if it will be the male or female team.

Apart from their qualification, not much has been heard about the preparations of Ghana's athletes towards the world event, giving room for concerns over whether Team Ghana is going just to participate and gain exposure or as serious contenders in the events they will compete in.In the build-up to the competition, athletes, keen on excelling or impressing in the various events, have been seen around the world, competing in the numerous IAAF competitions. Sadly, no Ghanaian was spotted; and if they were, nothing was heard about their performance.

In the build-up to the competition, athletes, keen on excelling or impressing in the various events, have been seen around the world, competing in the numerous IAAF competitions. Sadly, no Ghanaian was spotted; and if they were, nothing was heard about their performance.Ghana's athletes had cried for financial support to help them prepare adequately. Unfortunately, they never received any support.

Ghana's athletes had cried for financial support to help them prepare adequately. Unfortunately, they never received any support.Last April, the female relay team, then ranked 11th in the world, missed out on the World Relay Championship because of lack of funds and missed the chance to automatically qualify for London 2017. That missed chance cost the relay team a drop in the IAAF rankings and that could affect their participation in London.

Last April, the female relay team, then ranked 11th in the world, missed out on the World Relay Championship because of lack of funds and missed the chance to automatically qualify for London 2017. That missed chance cost the relay team a drop in the IAAF rankings and that could affect their participation in London.With just days to the start of the competition, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) has announced that $84,000 will be made available to the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) for the competition.

With just days to the start of the competition, the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) has announced that $84,000 will be made available to the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) for the competition.But is the help rather not too late? Is the support to help Team Ghana put in a last-minute effort in their preparation to impress at London or is it just to help Ghana make an appearance, as has been the case of Ghana athletics in recent times?

But is the help rather not too late? Is the support to help Team Ghana put in a last-minute effort in their preparation to impress at London or is it just to help Ghana make an appearance, as has been the case of Ghana athletics in recent times?Indeed, if it is for the latter, then it will be another sad story to tell as the nation obviously would not be expecting the athletes to return with any medal, an indication of how low athletics, once Ghana's pride on the world stage, is plunging.

Indeed, if it is for the latter, then it will be another sad story to tell as the nation obviously would not be expecting the athletes to return with any medal, an indication of how low athletics, once Ghana's pride on the world stage, is plunging.As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much more is expected, and since Ghana's athletes have not received the needed support and on time, no one should expect them to go and beat the Elaine Thompsons (the female sprint champion), the Caterine Ibarguens (Olympic triple jump champion) or the Wayde Van Niekerks (Olympic 400m champion).

As the saying goes, to whom much is given, much more is expected, and since Ghana's athletes have not received the needed support and on time, no one should expect them to go and beat the Elaine Thompsons (the female sprint champion), the Caterine Ibarguens (Olympic triple jump champion) or the Wayde Van Niekerks (Olympic 400m champion).In London, anything is possible. On the strength of that hope, and in spite of the unimpressive preparation towards the championship, we wish our athletes all the best!

In London, anything is possible. On the strength of that hope, and in spite of the unimpressive preparation towards the championship, we wish our athletes all the best!