The Uganda Olympic Committee have revealed they will target particular sports for medals ©UOC

The Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) have revealed they are to direct resources towards sports where the country has more medal potential, as they attempt to boost their tallies at Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

UOC President William Blick announced the change in approach following a strategic planning workshop.

Uganda have only ever won seven medals in their history at the Olympics, with three of those coming in athletics, including their only two golds, while four have been claimed  in boxing.

Similarly,  the Commonwealth Games have seen the country earn 39 medals in total, with athletics and boxing again accounting for every medal.

The workshop, the first of several to be held, saw 23 National Federations participate as the UOC aims to develop a strategic plan for the country.

“We are working with the federations to identify and agree on areas of strength where we can invest to get more Olympic and Commonwealth medals,” said Blick following the workshop's conclusion.

Stephen Kiprotich's gold at London 2012 was only Uganda's seventh Olympic medal, all of which have come in athletics or boxing
Stephen Kiprotich's gold in the marathon at London 2012 was only Uganda's seventh Olympic medal, all of which have come in athletics or boxing ©Getty Images

The workshop was held in collaboration with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), whose technical expert Gunter Lange was on hand to help identify strengths and weaknesses within the organisation and National Federations.

He was also encourage the participants to look at opportunities and threats to the strategic plan, to ensure the desired changes take place and Ugandan athletes feel the benefits of their country’s first plan.

Last year Lange criticised Federations in Uganda, as he believed they need to develop more organised structures and also accused officials of not doing enough to create a future for sport in the country.

German Deputy Ambassador Joachim Duster was on hand to open the workshop and with several more planned in the near future a consultant from the International Olympic Committee is set to fly to the country to help develop the plan.



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