Olympic medallist Lord Coe jets in Tanzania

The 2012 Olympic Games organising committee chairman  will discuss various issues pertaining to the London Games.


His tour comes at a time when Tanzanian sportsmen and women are striving to secure qualifying marks for the London Olympic.
Tanzania’s middle distance star Zakia Mrisho is the only local athlete who has so far qualified for the world’s biggest sporting and cultural event.

According to a statement by the British High Commission in Dar es Salaam, Coe will also visit Kibasila Secondary School and participate in the International Inspiration, a global sports development programme.

The programme is being led in Tanzania by the British Council in Dar es Salaam.
“During the visit, students at the school will display sporting activities and routines with Coe and Filbert Bayi,” reads part of the statement made available to www.starafrica.com.

Bayi, one of the best athletes Tanzania has ever produced, is the incumbent TOC secretary general.

The London 2012’s International Inspiration programme has so far reached more than 12 million children and young people around the world. Around 79,000 teachers, coaches and young leaders have been trained to lead sports bodies, physical education and play in their schools and communities.

  There are nine International Inspiration programmes in various countries across Africa –   Zambia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Egypt, South Africa and Ghana.

“International Inspiration goes to the heart of the London 2012 Games, and our determination to use the Games as a catalyst to change lives, as we promised in our bid,” Coe says in the statement.