Don’t expect medals at Rio Olympics - Prof. Dodoo

The president of the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA), Professor Francis Dodoo, says it is unfair for Ghanaians to expect medals from athletes at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil because the nation has failed to invest in their preparations.

According to Prof. Dodoo, who doubles as the president of the Ghana Olympic Committee, his outfit (GAA) since 2013 has received only GH¢ 10,000 from the National Sports Authority (NSA) for athlete development while athletes who competed at the 2014 African Championships have still not received their per diem despite winning 14 medals.

"I don't put pressure on my athletes because I don't think anybody wants to win medals more than the athletes themselves. So, they are already putting pressure on themselves and it is unnecessary for us to pile on the pressure," Prof Dodoo told the Graphic Sports on the sidelines of a Circuit Championship in Accra last Saturday. 

"The other thing that bugs me all the time, is the extent to which journalists and athletic fans put pressure on athletes. 

"We haven't invested anything  this year, we haven't given our athletes money to go to camp and yet we have the moral authority to say they should win medals.

We are going to the African Championships in six weeks, the likelihood is that the National Sports Authority won't give us money to go and compete but I guarantee you that none of the athletes will complain about that, then who are you to come and say you are expecting medals?, he asked.

Prof. Dodoo stated that given the lack of financial assistance,  such lofty expectations were unfair to the athletes who from the state deserved encouragement from all Ghanaians.