Aggrey Awori’s record will last forever

Apr 25, 2010

EDITOR—Aggrey Awori’s 110-metre hurdle record still stands for 32 years not because it was a great record but because sports is not an issue anymore in Uganda! No wonder Awori can decry lack of its challenge. I am sure he set this record when he was an undergraduate.<br>

EDITOR—Aggrey Awori’s 110-metre hurdle record still stands for 32 years not because it was a great record but because sports is not an issue anymore in Uganda! No wonder Awori can decry lack of its challenge. I am sure he set this record when he was an undergraduate.

But today if he went to any university in Uganda I doubt that there is anybody who knows what hurdles look like! It is unfortunate that sports functions are still graced by the likes of Aggrey Awori and their appearance is only ceremonial and making political capital. He says Busia had great athletes like Nyangweso and himself.

But ask him what contributions they have made to make sports popular in Busia. In the most recent national primary athletics championships, Busia district could not participate because of lack of funds and the small team that tried to represent it was stranded in Mbale!

How then can parents encouraged their children to participate in sports? What the Aworis of this world should do is first support a national sports policy as is done in Kenya. It is only then that they can appeal to parents to encourage their children.

Every year Uganda cannot present complete teams for all international competitions. In the recently concluded cross-country in Poland, the senior women team did not participate because there was no money.

Ugandan universities failed to send a team to the World University Crosscountry competition that ended last week in Canada. Same reason! Awori’s record will last forever because nobody is facilitated to challenge him.

James William Mugeni
Tororo

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