Foreign missions too mean with visas
Oct 03, 2005
UGANDAN athlete Matthew Chebet, 23, was denied a Canadian visa. Reason: He has never travelled abroad before.
Monday Sport Opinion - By Wangwe Mulakha (Deputy Sports Editor)
UGANDAN athlete Matthew Chebet, 23, was denied a Canadian visa. Reason: He has never travelled abroad before.
Chebet was part of Uganda team to the World Half-Marathon held in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday.
The Uganda Athletic Federation substituted Chebet with Alex Malinga who, unfortunately, did not finish the 21km race. Uganda however, finished the championship in tenth overall with Wilson Kipkemei Busienei the best performer having finished 14th out of 84 starters.
My concern is about an embassy denying an athlete a visa just because that person has never travelled out. It is like saying a baby should talk at birth.
I think it is time international bodies should critically think of the athletes access to countries before they grant them the right to host international meets.
We all agree that the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre bombings in New York City have continued to haunt us.
But that should not lead to the blanket denial of visas to innocent sportsmen on mission to represent their nations.
UGANDAN athlete Matthew Chebet, 23, was denied a Canadian visa. Reason: He has never travelled abroad before.
Chebet was part of Uganda team to the World Half-Marathon held in Edmonton, Canada, on Saturday.
The Uganda Athletic Federation substituted Chebet with Alex Malinga who, unfortunately, did not finish the 21km race. Uganda however, finished the championship in tenth overall with Wilson Kipkemei Busienei the best performer having finished 14th out of 84 starters.
My concern is about an embassy denying an athlete a visa just because that person has never travelled out. It is like saying a baby should talk at birth.
I think it is time international bodies should critically think of the athletes access to countries before they grant them the right to host international meets.
We all agree that the September 11, 2001 World Trade Centre bombings in New York City have continued to haunt us.
But that should not lead to the blanket denial of visas to innocent sportsmen on mission to represent their nations.