UK Africa Minister Commends Determination of Somali Athletes in London Olympics

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

During a crucial meeting with the president of Somali National Olympic committee Duran Ahmed Farah, Somali Athletics vice president Abdullahi Mohamed Saneey, coach Ahmed Ali Abiikar and the two athletes who represented Somalia in the London 2012 world Olympics on Friday, the British Minister for Africa development Henry Bellingham praised the war-weary athletes for their commitment and showing the world that Somali flag was still alive.

The minister Henry Bellingham delivered a speech at a crucial meeting with Somali Olympics at the foreign ministry office on Friday. This was the second meeting between the UK minister for Africa and the Somali National Olympic committee since Somalia arrived in London last month.

"We have experienced a very historical day during which the Somali flag waved over the Olympic park; we hope that Somalia will have a new government and a new parliament in the next few weeks-welcome to UK foreign ministry compound," the minister told the Somali NOC delegation under the leadership of president Duran Ahmed Farah.

He said it was an unprecedented cheerful moment for the whole Somali people when the war-devastated country's flag was raised over the international Olympic gathering.

"I wish good luck and stability for all Somalis," the minster added.

The president of Somali National Olympic committee Duran Ahmed noted that the London 2012 showed that the people of UK and Somalia are sports-loving people in accordance with what both communities have done for the past two weeks.

"We are very grateful to the UK government for its efforts to realize the participation of Somalia in the Olympics. You sent your diplomatic mission in Nairobi to Mogadishu where they finalized all the important travel document for the Somali delegation, this is really a very commendable move you have taken for them," Somali NOC president Duran Ahmed Farah told Friday's meeting.

Meanwhile in a press statement issued here on Saturday President Duran Ahmed Farah condemned the local Somali universal TV for broadcasting false reports on Friday's meeting.

He calledl on Universal TV authorities to justify for the false story about the fate of Somali Athletes Mohamed and Zamzam who are still at the Olympic village.

"They have broadcasted that the two athletes escaped-this is really a baseless propaganda intended to damage the publicity of Somali Olympics, the athletes are at the Olympic village and whoever wants can meet them there," Somali NOC president Duran Ahmed Farah said in his Saturday's press statement.

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze. Read more stories by Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar.