Ghana Names Contingent For Sydney Olympics

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana has announced a 51-man contingent made up of 31 athletes and 20 officials to represent the country at the Olympic games to be held September in Sydney, Australia.

Ghana Olympics Committee president, B.T. Baba, said the contingent, comprising 26 track and field athletes and five boxers, is the best the country can offer taking into consideration the demands of the International Amateur Athletics Federation.

The list of athletes includes the current African champion and national 100 metres record holder Leo Myles- Mills and the Commonwealth fly-weight gold medallist Raymond Narh.

Baba said in the selection of athletes, the committee took into consideration their performance during the All- Africa Games in Johannesburg, West African Championship in Abidjan, Commonwealth Games in Malaysia and the World Athletics Championship in Seville.

He said in the case of the boxers, all those who won medals during the last All-African Games qualify automatically.

The official delegation would be led by Colonel George Brock, chief executive of the National Sports Council and youth and sports minister, E. T. Mensah.

On preparation of the athletes, he announced that the team would embark on a final brushing up tour of Holland where they would take part in eight international meetings.

The boxers are already in Cuba for their final preparation. They also took part in a number of tournaments in the USA before proceeding to Cuba.

Total cost for the 51-member contingent would be 300,124 dollars, Baba said, adding that the amount includes allowances, airfare and bonuses.