Cameroon: FISA Makes Progress in Development of Rowing

Michel Doutre meets the National Olympic Committee of Cameroon

Michel Doutre, the FISA Development Consultant for French Speaking Africa returned last week from a very successful visit to Cameroon on the west coast of Africa.  Mr. Paul Longo, the President of Cameroon’s Federation of Nautical Sports, Mrs. Martine Eboko, the Secretary General and several coaches led Mr. Doutre on a tour of the various potential rowing sites as well as attending several official meetings.

The purpose of the FISA visit was to examine the conditions for rowing and to address the needs presented by the Cameroon’s Federation.  Mr. Doutre was able to see various sites in Yaoundé, Douala and Edéa.

The group met with the Cameroon Minister of Sports, Mr. Pierre Ismail Bidoungwat who was keen to see rowing develop quickly in Cameroon and felt that the country would be able to work with FISA to rapidly develop athletes and coaches.  Already, the federation has been able to recruit 10 coaches

Cameroon’s Moungo river

from canoeing who are willing to work with rowing and are moving ahead a media campaign to recruit potential athletes.

Meetings also took place with the President of the Cameroon National Olympic Committee, Colonel Kalkabab Malboum who confirmed that boats being shipped into Cameroon would be tax-free.  This is a key issue that FISA is always dealing with when rowing equipment is being sent to Africa, as taxes on equipment can sometimes exceed the value of the shipment or make it prohibitively expensive to import items.  By working closely with the government and the National Olympic Committees, the federations and FISA are able to insure that equipment will be received without any importation problems.

The members of the federation in Cameroon and those who are assisting in pushing rowing forward in Cameroon are all very motivated and keen to begin rowing as soon as equipment can be sent and this will be the next step.  It is hoped that FISA will be able to organize a shipment of equipment shortly to begin work with this dynamic federation.