Dragon boat: IDBF boss to visit Ghana December
Arku Jasmine
Sports News
2 minutes read
The president of the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), Mike Mackeddie-Haslam arrives in Ghana on December 6 for a two-day visit aimed at further promoting the sport in the country.
During the visit, Mackeddie-Haslam will meet with government officials including the Minister of Youth and Sports as well as other stakeholders to outline the importance of the sport as both a tourism potential and an international sporting discipline.
Besides, he will supervise a two-day club crew championship at Keta in the Volta Region between December 6 and 7 featuring over 30 clubs.
Meanwhile, the IDBF boss has on behalf of the federation expressed disappointment about the absence of Ghana at the recent World championship held in Hungary.
Ghana’s Black Dragons were denied visas by the Netherlands Embassy after several months of preparations.
“We were disappointed and upset with the Netherlands Embassy for not bothering to ask any question. They didn’t speak with the Ministry of Sports in Ghana or contact the government of Ghana on the issue. Not even a call to us.” he lamented.
“Ghana has been active and doing very well, we know they would have done well at the competition,” Mr. Mackeddie-Haslam told www.sportsinghana.com from his UK base.
“I am coming to empathise with Ghana over the disappointment by the Netherlands to refuse the team visas to Hungary. We will also like to meet with the President and the Ghanaian people to share the disappointment of the IDBF over Ghana’s absence at the championship,” Mackeddie-Haslam added.
He said: “We want to talk to the Ministry and see what else we can do to help. Essentially we want to make sure it does not happen at the next world championships in Canada. We want Ghana to be there.”
“I’m also coming to encourage Ghanaians to get more involved and support the local federation. I’m interested in Ghana because they have been very active and we see the country as the ideal place to head the sport in Africa.
Senegal, Nigeria and Uganda are also doing well but Ghana is the most promising dragon boat nation in Africa looking at the tournaments that they have organised locally”, he stressed.
Credit: www.sportsinghana.com/
During the visit, Mackeddie-Haslam will meet with government officials including the Minister of Youth and Sports as well as other stakeholders to outline the importance of the sport as both a tourism potential and an international sporting discipline.
Besides, he will supervise a two-day club crew championship at Keta in the Volta Region between December 6 and 7 featuring over 30 clubs.
Meanwhile, the IDBF boss has on behalf of the federation expressed disappointment about the absence of Ghana at the recent World championship held in Hungary.
Ghana’s Black Dragons were denied visas by the Netherlands Embassy after several months of preparations.
“We were disappointed and upset with the Netherlands Embassy for not bothering to ask any question. They didn’t speak with the Ministry of Sports in Ghana or contact the government of Ghana on the issue. Not even a call to us.” he lamented.
“Ghana has been active and doing very well, we know they would have done well at the competition,” Mr. Mackeddie-Haslam told www.sportsinghana.com from his UK base.
“I am coming to empathise with Ghana over the disappointment by the Netherlands to refuse the team visas to Hungary. We will also like to meet with the President and the Ghanaian people to share the disappointment of the IDBF over Ghana’s absence at the championship,” Mackeddie-Haslam added.
He said: “We want to talk to the Ministry and see what else we can do to help. Essentially we want to make sure it does not happen at the next world championships in Canada. We want Ghana to be there.”
“I’m also coming to encourage Ghanaians to get more involved and support the local federation. I’m interested in Ghana because they have been very active and we see the country as the ideal place to head the sport in Africa.
Senegal, Nigeria and Uganda are also doing well but Ghana is the most promising dragon boat nation in Africa looking at the tournaments that they have organised locally”, he stressed.
Credit: www.sportsinghana.com/