http://maigoc2007.sports.sina.com.cn 2007-04-23 MAIGOC
It is an agreement that assumes a lot of relevance for an Olympic Committee which is investing a lot for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games participation. The Macau Olympic Committee (MOC) and the Mozambique Olympic Committee signed an agreement for the organization of training camps before competitions. “The agreement signed has a deeper level of importance,” President of the Mozambique Olympic Committee Marcelino Macome, in his overall remark of Manuel Silvério visit to Maputo, explained. “it bears an objective for exchanges between the youth of Macau and Mozambique through Sport, which for us is of great significance.”
The preparation of the Mozambican Sports delegation to the 2008 Olympic Games will be the first attainment from this agreement signed during the visit of Manuel Silvério to Maputo. Since most of the sports for the Beijing Olympics are undergoing the qualification phases, Marcelino Macome admitted that “it is difficult to estimate the number of athletes to be in Beijing” and, before then, in Macao. The Mozambique Olympic Committee is making preparations for the participation of a “reasonable number of athletes.” According to Marcelino Macome, “the coach for the National Female Basketball team is now in the United States, to create better conditions for our best athletes in the qualifying matches for the participation of Olympic Games.” Mozambique is dealing with a complicated problem relating with Female Basketball athletes “They play in the United States and in Europe, we want them to be present in the national team but that hasn’t been always possible.”
Putting words to actions
During the agreement signing ceremony - which was attended by the Minister of Youth and Sports David Simango, Mário Coluna and other members of the local sport community, Manuel Silvério has guaranteed that the Mozambican Sports delegation will be provided with the best possible conditions in Macao. Marcelino Macome commented, “I have no doubts that our athletes will be in good hands, and this agreement is to formalize the cooperation that has already existed, because more that 60 Mozambican athletes have been in Macao in the last two years.” It is also the fulfillment of one of ACOLOP’ targets – to enhance the relationship between their members – and has allowed the Mozambican Sports community to acquire more in-depth knowledge on ACOLOP work.
Concluding on Manuel Silvério visit to Mozambique, Marcelino Macome believed that the visit has “reinforced authorities involvement” with the ACOLOP project. It has also fostered the relationship between Macau and Mozambique Olympic Committees. “We are very honored by this visit,” he added. “The President of ACOLOP was received by the highest authorities which demonstrated their support to the Association projects.” The President of the Mozambique NOC also said that “both with the governmental authorities and with the Sport circle, Manuel Silvério had the opportunity to explain the missions and principles of ACOLOP.” The result is “a stronger involvement and a deeper notion of what is ACOLOP, and that this Association does a lot more than the organization of the Lusofonia Games.”
Manuel Silvério has been in Maputo for four days and is now in South Africa. Besides the agreement between the NOCs, cooperation opportunities with the Mozambican Writers Association were discussed. The President of ACOLOP also met Mozambique Prime Minister Luísa Dias Diogo and Minister of Youth and Sports David Simango, Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Tian Guangfeng, and local sports and cultural communities in Maputo.
