Viérin Dégon, President of the Benin Athletics Federation: “We recorded interesting performances”

The President of the Benin Athletics Federation (FBA) has done, Saturday 5 August 2023, a media release on national television. During the broadcast, Viérin Dégon took stock of the last national championship. He also discussed the participation of Beninese athletes in competitions outside the territory and the projects implemented by the Federation..

Is the future of Beninese athletics being assured ? The answer to this question can be found in the recent media release of the president of the Benin Athletics Federation, Viérin Dégon. Guest on the show … Saturday 5 August 2023, the president first took stock of the last national championship of 21 and 22 July 2023. "It's a championship that this year was special in the organization and also special in the results", said Viérin Dégon.

Particular in the organization in the sense that before being at this championship, the Federation organized competitions in the departments which allowed athletes to be selected to participate in regional competitions before entering the national phase. So the 1st and 2 July "we had organized in all the departments a competition that the leagues led". They selected, he said, “the best for the regional phase which took place on 8 July in Natitingou, Parakou, Abomey, Grand Popo and Cotonou. The Federation sent a delegate to each of these regrouping points in the six regions which brought us the results. These results made it possible to select the best who were invited to take part in the championships.. It is therefore the best of the regions who have participated in the championship this year..

On practical organization, the president of the Benin Athletics Federation informed that this year his committee has introduced performance recording by electric timing. So, “The times that were recorded this year were the safety times taken by an electric chrono. As well, Nigeria participated in our championship with about forty athletes. They were looking for world championship minima for their relay team..

According to Viérin Dégon, during this championship, of athletes have improved their times, especially for athletes in age categories. This thanks to the training camps they have been organized during the year for their benefit. “We recorded interesting performances and we believe that in the years to come we will be able to make people talk about us abroad”, reassures the president of FBA. “The technicians are doing work to come up with a list of those who are truly above the lot. A list of 100 best in all events will be cleared to be able to these athletes”, he added.

Review of the Athlete and Coach Assistance Project

FBA President explained the substance of the Federal Athlete and Coach Assistance Project. He confided that it is a project initiated by the Federation since 2018. It makes it possible to financially assist certain athletes selected throughout Benin and also the coaches. More, “We found that the method used in previous years did not really work”. That is why, This year, the federation said that "if an athlete or a trainer is going to be in the program, it must be followed”. That is to say that “the coach must file his plan, a chronogram to be followed by the leagues and the federation ». This is how “we did five to six months of follow-up and the results really encouraged us”. He announced the relaunch of this program “in a very beautiful way”.

DOA Training Camps

Regarding the DOA training camps (Olympic dividend in athletics), the president explained that this project was initiated in 2018. It concerns only the departments where the practice of athletics is lagging behind. Faced with this problem which makes hearing a public health problem 2022 and 2023, the Federation received another grant from World Athletics. These camps consist of bringing together U16 athletes, U18 in a center and follow them for a few days. The athletes we have been following for 2022 are currently gaining momentum”, explained Viérin Dégon.

What to remember from the project “Women's sports “?

The project ” Women's sports ” was an initiative of the Ministry of Sports and the French Embassy. It consists of following the girls and giving them more luck. President Viérin Dégon said that the first phase of this project made it possible to acquire equipment, in particular the hedges made available to the six regions.. There have also been training courses for coaches and judges which are made available to the regions.. He thanked the World Athletics trainers Okry Nonvignon and Achille Aïhou. In phase II, high jump equipment has been ordered to allow athletes from the six regions to start doing this event directly with suitable equipment. According to President Dégon, this project also has a competition component only for girls. This year from September, the federation intends to organize throughout Benin competitions only for girls and a camp for them.

Participation in continental competitions

On this point, the President recalled that the 14 and 15 avril 2023 in Tamale, of athletes took part in the Five Nations Espoir Championship. He brought together the Ivory Coast, the Burkina Faso, the Ghana, Togo and Benin. A competition for the U16 and U18 and Benin brought back 38 medals. Benin took part in the African U16 and U18 championships in Ndola and the West African championships in Lomé. Beninese athletes went to the Francophonie games where they could not win a medal, but they did great. Viérin Dégon announced that Benin will be at the world championships from 18 next August with qualified Noélie Yarigo. The second qualified athlete will not be at this meeting due to injury.

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