SIX ATHLETES APPROVED TO TRAIN FOR RIO 2016 OLYMPIC GAMES
President of the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands Martin Rara. Photo credit: www.foxsportspulse.com
In Sports, the President of the National Olympic Committee of Solomon Islands (NOCSI) Martin Rara has said the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved six Solomon Islands athletes to undertake training in any country in preparation for next year’s Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.
In an interview with SIBC last week in Suva when the NOCSI President attended the 2015 Oceania National Olympic Committee Annual General Assembly, Mr Rara said the confirmation was made after his meeting with the President of the IOC Thomas Bach.
“We have sent a proposal to the IOC for our athletes to prepare in any country towards the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The total entries sent was six athletes and IOC has approved them to train in any training institute we deemed fit and it is prepared to fund the training, whether at any regional institution or any institution outside the country.”
He added, IOC has also accepted to help NOCSI build its own office building, saying this is a welcoming news for sports people in the country.
“Concerning a home for NOCSI it is a long time cry for sports in the Solomon Islands and currently NOCSI is paying very high rentals in terms of office space, but having this initiative IOC has accepted to help us in terms of having a home for NOCSI, which sports people in the country are looking forward to and to welcome that assistance.”