Tanzania: Chinese Land at Financial Support

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

30 May 2011

THE Chinese business community in the country on Monday dished out 5m/- to support the East and Central Africa Senior Athletics championship set to start on Friday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

The community’s vice-chairperson, Wu Quansheng presented the checque to the General Secretary of the National Sports Council (NSC), Henry Lihaya and Athletics Tanzania (AT) Secretary General, Suleiman Nyambui during a brief ceremony at the National stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Quansheng avowed when handing over the cheque that the Chinese community will continue its support of the sports sector as well as other disciplines.

Speaking during the occasion, Nyambui assured that preparations for the regional event were progressing well and called for the public to attend in big numbers to spice up the two -day event.

“The ultra modern athletics equipment for both field and track event has been fixed at the stadium and we predict a better championship,” said Nyambui.

A team of 25 local runners moved into residential training camp at the Salvation Army in the city last Saturday ahead of the championship.

The Athletics legend remained optimistic that the local sprinters would not afford another dismal show at the championship, which is among the major athletics events in Africa.

The event has attracted ten countries namely Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and hosts Tanzania.

He said foreign teams are expected to arrive in the country starting tomorrow. Nyambui said AT has so far received 20m/- from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and 1.5m/- from unnamed Arusha-based firm as part of the much needed financial support to stage the championship.

However, he said the amount was still short of the budget estimation of 100m/- and urged other sponsors to come on board and support the event.

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