Kivumbi ruled out of Olympics
THE excitement that surrounded Mubarak Kivumbi’s tripartite invitation to the Beijing Olympic Games ended in tears yesterday after the technical committee ruled that he could not lift in the 62kg category.
By Louis Jadwong &
Norman Katende in Beijing
THE excitement that surrounded Mubarak Kivumbi’s tripartite invitation to the Beijing Olympic Games ended in tears yesterday after the technical committee ruled that he could not lift in the 62kg category.
Kivumbi, who had been training in the 62kg category for the last one-and half years, was informed on Friday that he could only lift in the 56kg which he last competed in at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
The technical committee, which involves team of managers and coaches of the competing nations, traditionally meets prior to any international competition and makes the final entries including confirming of their participation, weight categories of their athletes and declared weight for lifting.
But during this meeting, the officials were given the start list and were told that it was final, leaving most of them amazed.
The development required Kivumbi to shed off 4.3kg in just two days; to which team doctor Ntege Ssengendo said was medically impossible and not advisable.
Uganda Weightlifting Federation and Uganda Olympic Committee had lodged a complaint against the change of rules, which the technical committee did not consider.
“We were not only the only country that was affected. We have tried all that we could, but it’s absurd,†said weightlifting coach Lanny Kimbowa.
“In fact when they communicated to us about the decision, they told us that confirmations of final entries were only left for the world championships and other international events, but not the Olympic Games.â€
Kivumbi was so crestfallen: “It’s hard to take in. I have been looking forward for these games.â€
Norman Katende in Beijing
THE excitement that surrounded Mubarak Kivumbi’s tripartite invitation to the Beijing Olympic Games ended in tears yesterday after the technical committee ruled that he could not lift in the 62kg category.
Kivumbi, who had been training in the 62kg category for the last one-and half years, was informed on Friday that he could only lift in the 56kg which he last competed in at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006.
The technical committee, which involves team of managers and coaches of the competing nations, traditionally meets prior to any international competition and makes the final entries including confirming of their participation, weight categories of their athletes and declared weight for lifting.
But during this meeting, the officials were given the start list and were told that it was final, leaving most of them amazed.
The development required Kivumbi to shed off 4.3kg in just two days; to which team doctor Ntege Ssengendo said was medically impossible and not advisable.
Uganda Weightlifting Federation and Uganda Olympic Committee had lodged a complaint against the change of rules, which the technical committee did not consider.
“We were not only the only country that was affected. We have tried all that we could, but it’s absurd,†said weightlifting coach Lanny Kimbowa.
“In fact when they communicated to us about the decision, they told us that confirmations of final entries were only left for the world championships and other international events, but not the Olympic Games.â€
Kivumbi was so crestfallen: “It’s hard to take in. I have been looking forward for these games.â€