1978 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, the legendary Azumah Nelson has urged Ghanaian athletes due to travel to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to stay unitimidated and approach their respective competitions with confidence, self-belief and determination.
The former 3-time world champion was speaking yesterday at the formal unveiling of Team Ghana, it’s preparations and roadmap to participation, exactly 50 days to the opening ceremony of the multi-sport event featuring 73 countries and territories in the Scotland capital from July 23 to August 2.
Alluding to the role of late former President Jerry Rawlings who he said served directly as manager to the athletes and ensured their needs were well taken care of during preparations to the 1978 Games in Edmonton, Canada. He therefore appealed to the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and government to invest, motivate and take good care of the athletes from logistics to training in order to bring out the best in them.
“I want to tell my brothers and sisters going to represent Ghana that it is not about juju, but hard work and determination,” said Azumah who was also revealed with 2002 Commonwealth bronze medallist, Margaret Simpson as GOC Ambassadors.
“Don’t be intimidated by the presence of other high-profile athletes. Be confident that you can do it if someone has also done. God bless you, I wish you all the best,” he stated.
GOC President Richard Kofi Akpokavie confirmed that the government has budgeted GH¢11million (eleven million Ghana Cedis) towards Ghana’s participation at the Commonwealth Games, even though the funds has not been released yet to the country’s Commonwealth Games Association.
Pointing out that Ghana has won a total of 63 medals in 22 appearances at the Games, except Vancouver 1954 and Brisbane in 1982, the GOC President called for corporate subsidy to complement the government budget in order to excel at the quadrennial games. Ghana’s official campaign slogan is “Team Ghana, from Ghana to Glasgow for gold” reflecting the GOC chief’s personal ambition for Ghana to claim gold medals at Glasgow 2026.
Ghana’s contigent expected to move to an acclamatising camp in Ireland by the middle of this month include Athletics (13), Boxing (10), Judo (2), Para Athletics (3), Para Powerlifting (1), Para Swimming (1), Swimming (4), Track Cycling (2) and Weightlifting (1). This lean, mean, high-efficiency squad aligns with strict performance metrics and quota allocations. Each discipline, accordingly, is undergoing gruelling technical validation to ensure Ghana sends high-performance contenders in the quest for success.
“The journey to the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, represents a critical milestone for our nation’s athletes who are steadily preparing for this global event,” Mr Akpokavie said.
“We thank government and the ministry of sports & recreation for the announcement of budgetary support of GH₵11M towards this campaign but my respectful appeal to corporate institutions remains clear; government alone cannot fund our preparation and participation at the games and corporate bodies, institutions and individuals are encouraged to extend their support to the GOC/CGA.”
Dignitaries present included the NSA boss Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, representatives of the British High Commissioner to Ghana and Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Iddie Adams
