2024-07-24 09:59:24
Athletes are currently arriving in Paris for the opening of the Olympics. But before getting there, athletes train hard for many years. Chaotic lifestyles outside the normal routine and that have a price. On African soil, in many countries, there is no real economic model for financing the activities of elite athletes. For many, it is a struggle.
Chadian Israel Madaye spent the last year at a training center in Lausanne, Switzerland. A preparation of The Olympics are funded by a grant from the International Olympic Committee. « To get there, it’s hard, he assured. Thanks to this scholarship I study freely. In the scholarship, the company pays for our accommodation, health insurance and tutor too. The center also helped me a lot. I use their room for study etc. ».
However, he regrets not receiving more support from his country. ” Since my qualification, I have not had a bonus. I will even say that my travel expenses have not been reimbursed yet. For someone who wants to participate in the Olympics, it is difficult », An athlete’s grief, especially when he succeeds in representing his country at the highest level. ” When you see the national anthem playing and you raise the flag. When you have beaten the big countries. No one believes in us. When it comes to that, at least you have to encourage that, to encourage the athletes to prepare well for the Olympics. But nothing was done », he described in a slightly depressed way.
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Many uncertainties
Israel Madaye is the African champion. However, today, it is not possible to finance one’s sporting needs. Even the most basic like your equipment. ” When I got here [à Lauzanne], the hardware was very small, so the hardware must be changed. I have to check with the center. As they signed an agreement with Wiawis, a brand that everyone uses, thanks to which I have the application », he noted further.
But for Games, two arcs are important. The estimated total cost is 12,000 euros. It is not possible to finance your scholarship. ” And it must be said that the application is centralized. If you are going, say the middle :”Israel, you left us a tool “, I have to leave it. It’s not mine », he worries.
In Lausanne, he studied alongside Fatoumata Sylla of Guinea. You also have this scholarship “Olympic Unity”, which is far from covering all costs. So two athletes often combine their efforts. “ For example, when we need something, you give some, I also give some, he told us. There are small tools like feathers, palettes … when things are bad, so that you don’t ask for the center every time because they have done a lot for us, we manage by combining our tools. ».
Today financially, young athletes have very few options. He regretted the lack of transparency of certain procedures and even wondered about the possibility of finding sponsors. ” In fact, I don’t even know how it happened. There are many companies, but they usually employ federal presidents. But athletes cannot benefit from that. This is also the case in Africa », he complained. The award will mark the end of their scholarship. Both shared their uncertainties about how to finance the rest of their careers.
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