Delayed national budget affects Malawi's Olympic team

The 10 member Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) left for the Beijing
games without up keep allowances and kits due to financial constraints.

Speaking after the delegation’s departure at the Kamuzu
International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe Monday afternoon, MOC president
Floriano Massa said the budget for the trip was K6.5 million to meet
food, sport kits, accommodation expenses, while air tickets were
provided by Malawi government and International Olympic Committee
(IOC).

Government managed to provide K2.5 million, leaving a huge shortfall.

“We have had an impact of the delayed national fiscal budget,
government can not release enough funds now and that has made us fail
to meet other obligations for the trip but we are working out how to
solve the problem,” said Massa.

He said MOC had to fall in debt to facilitate the trip as they were
finalizing on some other necessities while the team was already in
China.

“Things like sport kits are very important and the athletes can not do
without them,” said Massa. “But we are doing everything so that they
are provided with those materials before the games start.”

He promised the athletes that the kits which were being procured from South Africa should reach them on August 5.

Massa said the IOC assisted with some of the air tickets and government met the rest of the expenses.

The Olympic Games will open on August 8 with a ceremony that will parade about 7,000 athletes from 203 countries worldwide.

The Malawi team comprises short distance athletes Chancy Master who
runs 1,500m, Lucia Chandamale, 500m and swimmers Charton Nyirenda and
Zahra Pinto who have been training in South Africa.

Polyanna Pinto (mother to Zahra) accompanied the athletes, while Ken
Dzekedzeke and Yona Walesi are the athletes and swimmers coaches,
respectively. The team manager is Haxson Chapasa who is also MOC
General Secretary.