Tanzanian marathon hero John Stephen Akhwari said here that he concerned the lack of fund to develop his country's athletics.
Akhwari, the most famous last place finisher in an Olympic Games marathon, was paying his second visit to the Olympic host city while telling his concerns.
"Lack of fund is the biggest problem for us right now," said the 70-year-old. "We cannot afford building sport schools. Besides, we also lack fund to pay for the students' accommodation, training and tuition."
"If only we had enough fund to bring up more young talents, we would have created more good results in world class competition," said Akhwari.
Tanzania has yet to win a marathon medal at any Olympic Games after Akhwari first represented his country in the Mexico City Games in 1968 when he dragged his injured leg to finish last, with four hours 30 minutes, in the marathon race. The winner, Mamo Wolde from Ethiopia, took the race in 2:20.26.
But he became one of the most memorable figures in the Olympic history with his persistence and his word.
"My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race. They sent me to finish," said the then 30-year-old athlete.
Despite his last finish, Akhwari was honored as a national hero by Tanzania in 1983.
He was chosen to carry the Olympic torch in April this year in the Beijing Olympic torch relay Dar es Salaam leg.
Source: Xinhua
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