The 2018 Cameroon International Cycling Tour has been annulled just a day to the start of the eight day event.
The unhappy proclamation was made earlier this Friday 9th March 2018 by the President of the Cameroon Cycling Federation Honore Yossi who has cried foul to financial constraints.
According to him, the cancellation of the 15th edition of the tour is on the instructions of the Minister of Sports and Physical Education,Bidoung Mpatt.
“We had our last preparatory meeting with the Minister,who asked me to annul the cycling tour because the budget is not readily available. It will be a disgrace for participating athletes and foreign delegations to go without food,shelter and transportation”
Notheless, reports indicate that visiting delegations from Rwanda,Algeria and officials of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) amongst others are already on the ground ahead of the event initially programmed to kick-off this Saturday 10th March 2018.
The scandal comes after series of prepatory meetings,mobilisation and trainings organised by the Cameroon Cycling Federation in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Physical.
Consequences
The recent decision annulling the cycling tour has the following consequences on cycling in the Country;
-The Federation is entittled to an undisclose fine to pay to the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the International Cycling Federation (ICF)
-Cameroonian cyclists will not participate in competitions organised by the International Cycling Union,the World governing body for sports cycling.
-The sports image of Cameroon will be negatively projected at the international scene.
Just to note that, over the years the cycling tour has failed to generate its income.
Eventhough Cameroonians consider this verdict as a bombshell,others think the Federation needs to rethink its strategies because it has failed woefully to keep some of its best cyclists,officials and sponsors.
The announcement is no surprise to officials of the Federation and the Ministry as the last preparatory meeting this Thursday 8th March 2018 went late into the night but failed to provide a solutions to the problems facing cycling in Cameroon.
Benly Anchunda
