look news india
Entebbe, (Uganda), 23 October (Hindustan Reporter). International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach arrived in Uganda on Tuesday on a two-day official visit.
Speaking to the press at Entebbe International Airport, Bach said, “I am very happy to finally come to Uganda. “Uganda keeps producing champions and it feels good to be here.”
Bach was welcomed by Uganda's Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang, Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) President Donald Rukare and Paris Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, among others.
Bach also talked about countries that have good facilities that help athletes prepare better before big competitions like the Olympics. Speaking about Uganda he said the country also has the advantage of having good mountainous terrain, where top athletes like Cheptegei have been training and winning medals.
“Not all countries have the benefits that Uganda has,” he said. “And some countries have different benefits regarding where athletes train.”
He explained that the IOC is trying to bridge the gap for all members with the Olympic Solidarity Programme, which has raised up to US$650 million in terms of support.
“The Uganda Olympic Committee is very smart in using the Olympic Solidarity Program for the benefit of the athletes,” Bach said.
Cheptegei, who won the Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon last weekend, was quoted by Xinhua as saying it was an honor to be part of the team welcoming the IOC president. “As a country, we are very happy to see Bach coming to Uganda so that we can also explore some of the challenges here,” Cheptegei said.
Bach's visit to Uganda is coming as part of his wider tour of African countries, which also includes Senegal, South Africa, Lesotho, Uganda and Rwanda.
Bach, a former foil fencer, is the first Olympic gold medalist to be elected to the IOC post.