Veronica Commey Clears Air Over Snapped Pole Vault at 24th CAA African Senior Athletics Championship
Madam Veronica Commey, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the ongoing 24th CAA African Senior Athletics Championship has denied reports suggesting it supplied the pole vault equipment that snapped during competition earlier this week.
The clarification follows widespread criticism after Beninese athlete Aldo Mariano Sedjlo endured a frightening incident during the Decathlon pole vault event when his vault pole broke while he was airborne.
Images and videos of the incident quickly spread across social media, with many questioning the quality and safety standards of equipment being used at the championship in Accra.
But speaking during Thursday’s Daily Presser for the Championship been held in Accra, organisers insisted the broken vault was privately owned by the athlete and not provided by the LOC.
Officials described claims linking the organisers to the damaged equipment as inaccurate and misleading.
“I will like to category and firmly state that, that narrative is completely false,” the Veronica Commey said in a statement delivered at the briefing.
The committee further stressed that athletes competing in the pole vault competition were responsible for using their own approved equipment throughout the championship.
“The LOC did not provide vault for athletes and all vaults being used at the championships are owned by the individual athletes,” the statement added.
Benin Federation Confirms Ownership of Vault
President of the Benin Athletics Federation, Visit Dugon, supported the organisers’ explanation and confirmed the broken pole belonged to Sedjlo.
According to him, the vault had gone through the mandatory inspection process conducted by technical officials before the event began.
Dugon noted that despite the unfortunate incident, the equipment had initially met approval standards required for competition.
He also moved to calm fears surrounding the athlete’s health, revealing that Sedjlo escaped serious injury.
The federation president stated that the Beninese athlete is currently in stable condition and recovering well after receiving medical attention following the incident.
The LOC used the press briefing to respond to a number of concerns that have surfaced since the start of the continental championship.
Organisers admitted there were some early setbacks involving technical operations but maintained that the situation has since improved significantly.
“Before we hear from the various people expected to speak to the issues, I would like to report that the initial challenges faced in the area of technical equipment have been fully addressed,” the statement said.
The committee also rejected recent complaints regarding feeding conditions for athletes participating in the event.
“On the issue of feeding, I’ll like to emphasize that the earlier reports from the athlete on the rationing of food has been independently verified to be false,” organisers stated.
Officials further assured athletes, journalists and participating federations that efforts are ongoing to improve conditions at the championship.
“I would like to assure the athletes, the media and all stakeholders that we prioritize the need of athletes especially, and all stakeholders alike and will not stop at continuously improving services for everyone’s comfort,” the LOC added.
While acknowledging the pressures that come with hosting a major continental competition, organisers insisted they remain committed to ensuring a successful championship.
“While we appreciate that there may be gaps as pertains in all mass events, we are dedicated to hosting a good championships and welcome feedback on occasional challenges that need addressing,” the statement concluded.
Competition at the African Senior Athletics Championship continues in Accra as athletes from across the continent battle for medals and qualification opportunities for future international events.