African Games 2015: Gabon Fields 120 Athletes Despite Athletics Ban
The 11th African Games officially opened today in Brazzaville, Congo, with Gabon already present with a delegation of 120 athletes, according to reports from APA. The Central African nation will be represented across nine sporting disciplines, including basketball, boxing, cycling, handball, judo, karate, taekwondo, Paralympic multi-sport, and tennis.
However, Gabonese athletics will be conspicuously absent from the Games due to the suspension of the Gabonese Athletics Federation by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The sanction has barred the country from entering athletes in track and field events.
The suspension is a blow to Gabon’s medal hopes, particularly given the form of sprinter Rudy Zang Milama, one of the nation’s most promising contenders. The absence of athletics removes a potential medal opportunity and limits Gabon’s chances of a strong showing in the overall medal table.
Despite the setback, Gabon’s participation in nine other disciplines demonstrates the country’s commitment to maintaining a sporting presence on the continental stage. The athletes will be looking to make their mark and lift the national flag high in Brazzaville, where the African Games are returning for the first time since the inaugural edition in 1965.
The Games, which run through September 19, feature thousands of athletes from across the continent competing in over 20 sports.
