The lack of resource allocation sports organizations are concerned about the leadership and, especially, the athletes who cannot comply with their preparation programs for official tournaments.
Recently, an athletics delegation that participated in the South American Race Walking Cup had to be reduced from 23 to 18 representatives, precisely due to lack of money, according to the president of the Ecuadorian Federation of Athletics (UGLY), Manuel Bravo, who with his self-management allowed the team to move to Lima. Now the unknown is whether or not they will participate in the next World Cup, to be held in March, in Oman.
Johana Ordonezselected Ecuadorian, bronze in the 35 km race walk, in Peru, points out: “I don’t want to get into the subject, because athletes should not worry about whether or not there is money to represent our country. I shouldn’t worry about whether or not I’m going to the world race, but we received information from the FEA race coordinator, who told us that there was no money, there was no budget and it is not known whether or not we will go to the world championship in Oman” .
“I fully trust that this economic situation will be resolved; Obviously, the FEA will provide a solution for Ecuador to be present at this world event”, said the athlete from Guayas.
Regarding the trip to Peru, Ordóñez indicated that the displacement was covered by the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE). “I don’t know if they have already deposited the travel expenses (10 dollars a day), but we didn’t have breakfast and lunch at the airports, that is, the resources for this trip were very limited; despite that, we went to give it everything and get the qualification for the world championship”, he added.
The athlete also acknowledged that her trip to Peru was with the support of her entity, the Guayas Sports Federation: “They supported me and continue to help me; They even allowed my coach (the Spaniard Paquillo Fernández) to accompany me to Lima”.
“This time I am in Mexico and I have already completed my first training thanks to Fedeguayas and the private company. We planned this trip (prior to the World Cup) because the FEA, in December, told us that there was no money for these training camps. We cannot wear ourselves out doing trades or requests for help, because they tell us there is no money”.
“I am confident that everything will be resolved and, as I say, the FEA will find a way out and we will be able to travel to Oman. I will be in Mexico until February 23 and later I will travel to Spain, but I would like to have the tickets; I don’t know if my coach will be able to accompany me, although I will have to negotiate again with the private company to accompany me”, Ordóñez said.
The athlete insisted that they cannot be aware of the money: “We should not have that concern, and not even intervene with statements, because ours is to train and compete. As these dialogues have been opened between athletes, the press, the Ministry of Sports and sports entities, I want to emphasize what Fedeguayas does as an example of management, and I want to take the positive out of all this. basically I’m going to focus on training, take advantage of 110% of the support I have by the Fedeguayas and the private company, which helps me to see myself standing at the starting line of the World Walking Championship. That is what I ask.” (D)
Ibáñez: ‘It’s nothing new’
For Roberto Ibanezpresident of the Ecuadorian Judo Federation and of the Fedeguayas, the lack of delivery of resources is not something new: “It is not new. This happens every first three months, it’s always like that. Until the State resources can be delivered, the POA must first be approved (Annual Operational Program), take out policies, bonds and, once it is fulfilled, the Ministry (of Sport) generates a unique proof of registration (CUR) payment, and that is paid by the Ministry of Finance; in fact, from the time of President Rafael Correa to date it has been like this”.
“One as a leader has to see how it solves, to keep people training, workers calm; because, always, the first three months the resources are not delivered and they have been difficult. That has not changed since the time of José Francisco Cevallos up to now”.
Ibáñez says that before, when they had remnants, once the POA was approved, a project was presented for its use and the first months of the year were paid. “This year, in the case of high performance, as the project ended (with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games), one cannot use those remnants; the regulations do not allow it, and that is why sports organizations have no resources. In the case of judo, self-management has been necessary to comply with the nutrition of the athletes who are concentrated. The first three months have always been complex”. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
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