Malawi Paralympics London trip cancelled

 Malawi will not be represented at the 2012 International Paralympics Games in London as government has advised the Malawi Para Olympics Committee (MPC) not to proceed with the trip.

Totally blind athletes Chisomo German and Janet Shedan, together with their two helpers, a coach and a doctor, were supposed to represent Malawi at the Games which start today (Wednesday).

The Para Olympics Local Organising Committee (Locog) sent a grant of 489 428 pounds (about K2.1 million) to MPC to cater for the athletes’ travel, but MPC needed an extra K2.7 million (about $10 800), which government failed to provide.

Sports Council development officer Ruth Mzengo wrote MPC on Monday, advising them not to proceed with the trip.

“For the good image of the Government of Malawi, and for the safety of the athletes, it is advisable that you cancel the trip,” reads the letter addressed to MPC and copied to second Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Justin Saidi and director of sports James Ndalama.

MPC communication officer George Luhanga, who also serves as national coach, confirmed the postponement of the trip in an interview on Tuesday.

“We got communication from Sport Council’s Ruth Mzengo that we must cancel the trip because the Olympians cannot go there without officials. What this means is that both government and the corporate world has failed us. It is sad and a blow to the disabled sport,” said Luhanga.

He said because of the cancellation of the trip, MPC will have to refund the grant it received and also pay unspecified penalties to both Locog and the International Para Olympic Committee (IPC).

“Not only that, the morale of the athletes has gone down, so too the image of the corporate world and also that of government,” said Luhanga.

MPC president Juma Mkandawire has blamed it all on lack of interest from the ministries responsible for people with disability; and Youth and Sports.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of People with Disabilities, George Mkondiwa, said it is not like his ministry failed, but the truth was that the responsibility of sending the athletes to London lies with the Ministry of Sports.

Youth and Sports Minister Enoch Chihana said MPC were not assisted by his ministry because they sent their request late.

“They only approached us last Wednesday—two days before their departure for London. It could not have been easy for us to help them,” said Chihana.

Meanwhile, MPC has been invited to a wheelchair marathon in Japan on October 28.

According to MPC president Juma Mkandawire, they would require at least K2.5 million (about $10 000) from well-wishers to send four athletes to the Japanese event.

“The Japanese Paralympics Committee noticed our existence through the IPC website and has asked us to be part of their event this October. However, finances will be our biggest challenge, so we urge companies to help us,” said Mkandawire.

So far, Manica Malawi, which donated K200 000 (about $800) towards Malawi Paralympics team’s trip to London last Friday, has pledged to contribute towards the Japan trip as well.

Manica Malawi managing director Reiner Barford, however, urged other companies to help in the promotion of minority sports such as paralympics as it is such disciplines that put many countries on the international map.