<<Print>>The Ghana National Rifle Association (GNRA) has sent out an appeal for financial support from all quarters, especially corporate bodies, to enable it send one of its key athletes, Ivor Kobina Greenstreet, to represent the Black Snipers at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
It estimated an amount of 9,150 euros as total funding required for Ivor to be at the event, which will make him the first African ever to compete in the para-shooting discipline at the Rio para-Olympics in Brazil.
The estimated amount will cover a gun (2,000 euros), ammunition (1,000 euros), jacket (50 euros), air fare (750 euros), accomodation (350 euros) and a training stint from September -- July next year to Rio (5,000 euros).
In a recent statement seeking assistance for the sport in Ghana and Ivor Greenstreet, in particular, the GNRA noted, “This is not a football team, but an individual who is currently leading Africa in this sport division. Now that’s surely worth supporting.”
The statement, signed by the Chairman of the GNRA, Cillian G. Walsh, stressed the need for the funding, saying: “Our challenge, as with all federations in Ghana, is support. We require funds to train, compete and sustain a level of consistency to require success on the international stage and to get to Rio next year. ”
But before the Rio Olympics, Greenstreet, who is also the General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), is scheduled to compete at the upcoming 5th International Para Shooting Championship in Italy next month.
And it also will be the first time ever that an African will be competing internationally in this discipline.
It will be recalled that in July last year, four members of the GNRA, composed primarily of Police and Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel, travelled to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“The GNRA was established in July 2011 following an identified need to assist shooting sports in Ghana. From a small membership, the association has grown significantly incorporating mainly security services personnel, a limited number of civilians and now one very special para-athlete,” noted the statement.
According to the association, it “was ratified by the Ghana and International Olympic Committee in 2012 and in November 2013 affiliated with the International Shooting Sports Federation and granted federation status for all shooting sports in Ghana”.