The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is very concerned about giving Ghanaian athletes the best of motivation, inspiration and preparation to win Ghana’s first gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
In view of this, the president of the GOC took the opportunity while attending the ANOCA meeting in Japan to visit the pre-games training camp offered by Inawashiro Town.
The GOC president, Ben Nunoo Mensah signed a memorandum of understanding with the mayor of Inawasshiro town, Hiroshi Zenga on December 2, 2018.
Accoeding to the memorandum, Team Ghana would use all the training facilities for free during the period of pre-games training towards the biggest sports festival.
They will be given opportunity to train in modern well equipped facilities fully reserved for Ghana at the Inawashiro Town General Gymnasium, where there are 10 badmintion courts, 2 basketball courts, 3 volleyball courts, 50 table tennis tables, 2 judo areas and others such as a boxing ring and an (all weather) athletics oval as well as facilities for swimming, weight lifting and other disciplines.
Ben Nunoo Mensah disclosed that Inawashiro Town will provide an interpreter, bus for transportation, medicals and free accommodation for at least 30 athletes including coaches and staff.
The memorandum said the Tokyo Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2020 will focus also on safety and security.
It also proposed the revitalisation of Inawashiro Town to attract tourists and create human, economic and cultural exchange with other countries.
Inawashiro Town is located in the center of Fukushima prefecture, surrounded by the beautiful nature created by mount Bandai and Lake Inawashiro.
Ghana and Inawashiro, international exchange is taking place intimately by the relationship with Dr. Hideyo Niguchi, a medical officer who lived in Ghana researching to save the pains of people through a medical study in pursuit of happiness of the human.
The president of Ghana, Nana Akuffo Addo and Ghana’s ambassador to Japan have recently visited Inawashiro to see the Noguchi Memorial Hall and other places of interest.
In 1993, former president J.J. Rawlings and the then first lady visited Inawashiro Town, and since then, there had been cultural exchanges between Ghana and the town.
By Sammy Heywood Okine
GOC Communications