Support for more than 1,600 athletes, including Sierra Leonean athletes currently benefiting from a Tokyo 2020 Olympic scholarship, will continue without interruption until August 2021. A total cost of US$15 million has been put forward, subject to the program guidelines. Additional support can be requested for teams currently benefiting from this program who have qualified or can still qualify for the Games in Tokyo through participation in specific competitions.
Support to refugee athlete scholarship-holders will continue without interruption until August 2021, in accordance with the program guidelines.
According to the information, four of the athletes are track and field athletes – Margaret Venessa Barrie, Hafisatu Sahid Kamara, Famata Awolo and Noah Conteh, joined by freestyle wrestler, Foday Kargbo.
“To continue with the scholarship is a good move that will help the athletes perform well during the games in 2021,” said Mohamed Turay, the Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Swimming and Diving Association.