Prof Francis Dodoo (middle) speaking at the event while Ms Kady Kanoute (left) and Mr Richard Akpokavie look on

Athletes urged to develop other vocations

Beatrice Laryea Athletics Nov - 25 - 2016 , 13:18

The president of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Prof Francis Dodoo, has challenged Ghanaian sportsmen and sportswomen to take advantage of their sporting careers to develop other vocations that will enable them to cater for themselves and their families after their transition from sports.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)-organised Athlete Career Programme (ACP) held at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium in Accra last Wednesday, Prof. Dodoo said he was glad that several athletes and coaches from different federations turned up for the event, which he described as relevant and necessary for Ghanaian athletes.

“The ultimate responsibility to take care of yourself is your obligation and you put yourself at a risk of being disappointed if at the end of your career you anticipate that somebody else is going to take care of you and when that does not happen it creates a certain unhappy feeling within you”, he told the participants.

Forty athletes and coaches, comprising 35 males and five females from about 20 sporting federations, were schooled at the IOC/ACP outreach workshop organised in collaboration with the GOC.

The eight-hour interactive session, put together with assistance from the Adecco Group, the world’s leading workforce solutions provider, was intended to provide resources and training that enables athletes to develop their life skills and maximise their education and employment opportunities, as well as supporting athletes in transition.

Some of the topics treated at the about 8-hour interactive session were Behavioural Discovery, Personal Values, Networking, CV/Resume Writing, Career Interests, Preparing for Professional and Media Interviews, Balancing Sports and Education, Time Management as well as How to use Social Media Effectively.

Speaking on the topic ‘Balancing Sports and Education’, Miss Kadidiatou Kanoute Tounkara, course instructor and former Olympian at Beijing 2008 who is also a member of ANOCA Athletes Commission, said being an athlete does not restrict one from pursuing other career paths but rather creates several opportunities for them to exploit.