AIPS / LAUSANNE: The 2026 Africa Athletics Championships, which has world record holder Tobi Amusan as one of the headliners, took off on the wrong foot with the opening day of competition overshadowed by controversy and criticism over lack of certain amenities for athletes and journalists.

Ghanaian sports journalist Yaw Ofosu described the situation as “an absolute farce” in a post on X: “What is an athletic meet without the times the athletes finished? How are we as journalists supposed to tell the stories? How do we know how well they have done here in comparison to what they did in other meets? Athletes finish races and are asking for their times and it’s crickets…,” he explained.

Ofosu expressed his disappointment at the embarrassing start to a competition that Ghana had known it would host since winning the bid over Botswana at the CAA Congress in Douala, Cameroon in June 2024.

“There is no space for the media to work (media centre), the media tribune had Jama singers screaming so much you can’t hear a thing or focus to do your job.

“We had 7 100m men’s heats today and the starting gun faltered about 4 times – affecting the athletes. It’s a shame,” Ofosu wrote, while hoping that the situation improves in the next few days.

Nigerian sports journalist and photographer Christopher Maduewesi also posted on X: “By the way, this is the first African championship that I am covering, where journalists have been gleefully told to purchase their own data for internet.

“Even as bad as Douala was, there was internet for journalists to work with.”

South African shot putter Aiden Smith has gone viral not for winning gold on the opening day of competition but for his strong criticism of the way athletes are treated at their hostel accommodation at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, Accra.

Despite winning the shot-put title with a throw of 20.01m, Smith couldn’t help complaining about the non-conducive, rigid living and food arrangements while speaking with journalists at the mixed zone.

Smith arrived in Ghana with a lot of expectations but has been met with inadequacies – from sleeping without a blanket to “fighting” for food.

“Well, I expected a lot when we got here. I expected a hotel at least. But when we got into the rooms, the beds were leather. We got sheets, we got a pillow, but no blanket,” Smith revealed, adding that when they complained they were told they were supposed to bring their own blankets.

Smith continued: “The aircon, we don’t have an aircon remote. We had to go request at the reception for the aircon remote. You’re not allowed to keep your aircon remote. You set it, then you give it back. There was no toilet paper. We had to go ask for toilet paper. There’s no warm water. The water is at one temperature… Oh, the tap water doesn’t work…

“And then the eating. We go there, we ask for food, and they fight with us. We’re not allowed to take more than one chicken bone. And I asked them, okay, listen, we are athletes, we need to eat, we need to hydrate, you know, we need to eat.

“And we asked them, and they said, ‘No, go.’ And then you’re not allowed to take chicken and fish. You’re only allowed to take a chicken, or you’re only allowed to take fish. And when I fight with them, like, listen, I need to eat. And then they’re like, okay, I’ll give you at least two.

“So, they just gave me two chickens. And then in the morning, they give me half an egg or one egg. That’s it. At home, I’m always eating 20 eggs in the morning. 20 eggs on their own in the bulk. Off-season now, in-season now, I eat like 8 or 9 eggs. Now I’m only allowed one egg.”

In spite of these, Smith is looking forward to exploring the country, having finished his competition. “I expected a lot more. I love Ghana. Ghana is amazing. I’m going to explore it now.”

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