Three Sri Lankan Athletes – Yupun Abeykoon (100m), Nilani Ratnayake(3000m Steeplechase) and Gayanthika Abeyrathne(800m), have finally received their VISA clearance and have boarded their flights to the USA in order to take part in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
Unsurprisingly the VISA applications were only made last week through the athletes, despite being announced they have qualified last month on the 26th. Atop of that, the players themselves had to book the flight tickets and only left the island yesterday while Yupun left Italy today as he needed clearance from two embassies as a foreign based athlete.
All three athletes would have nearly missed this competition had the Sri Lankan Authorities done the needful at the right time instead of the players having to go through the hassle themselves and with the double if they can actually make the trip in a time of a crisis. They have less than 2 days to practice and adjust to the conditions.
A few days ago, Yupun’s coach Claudio Liccardello expressed his concerns over social media. Players should not have to go through mental stress before competitions and the lack of planning from Sri Lanka Athletics is a severe concern. A close source known to Yupun stated that the authorities have not communicated during the time the athletes have qualified and did not take steps to get the VISA clearance, hence the Athletes had to do it themselves.
If for any reason the athletes did not make the flight yesterday and today, would the authorities have taken the blame for not being able to communicate what needs to be done before the deadlines? Can a sporting body afford to have incompetent leaders in the governing body who do not have the slightest concern from an athlete’s point of view?
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