The Lesotho Government has committed more than M2, 6 million as part of preparations and participation of Lesotho in the forth coming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

At least five athletes and twelve officials will participate in the games. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games commence on August 08 to 24 this year and Lesotho is yet to win a medal from the Olympic Games since 1972.

Furthermore the government has also pledged M100 000.00, M50 000.00 and M20 000.00 for each athlete who will win and another M20 000.00 for a coach whose athlete will earn a gold, silver and bronze medals from this biggest sporting event in the world.

This was revealed at the press briefing held at the Ministry of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation in Maseru on Tuesday.

Lesotho delegation will be led by the Minister of Gender and Youth, Sports and Recreation Mrs. 'Mathabiso Lepono as well as the Principal Secretary Mr. Makalo Theko representing the government.

Over and above the five athletes and 12 officials, two young Basotho children, Thabiso Moea and 'Mamashinini Nhlapho shall attend the Olympic Youth Camp attached to the Games and this brings the total number of delegation to 19.

Though head of delegation Mr. Ts'epo Hlojeng and the four athletes namely Tsotang Maine, Moeketsi Mosuhli,'Mamoroallo Tjoka and Thabiso Nketu as well as their technical team left the country for China on Monday, Mabuthile Lebopo will join with the rest of the team later due to passport problems and is reported to have left a day later (Tuesday).

Maine, Mosuhli, Tjoka and Lebopo will be taking part in the 42.2 kilometre race while Nketu will be competing in 54kg boxing division.

Meanwhile, Lesotho will be sending a team of 138 provisional list of athletes to the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA) Zone VI Games rescheduled to December 1-13 in Potchefstroom in South Africa.

For SCSA Zone VI Games, Lesotho will be represented in Football for boys, Netball for girls, Boxing (boys), Athletics, Swimming, Basketball and Elite Athletics all in both boys and girls aged under 18 years.

In the previous Games held in Windhoek, Namibia two years ago, Lesotho brought six medals from boxing.

Source: LENA 29/07/2008