Cameroon: Athletes Stranded and Desperate En Route to Dixiades 2023

Stranded Dixiade athletes in Cameroon

As the 7th edition of the National Games of Cameroon, known as Dixiades, is set to kick off this Sunday at the Roumde-Adjia stadium in Garoua, a distressing situation has unfolded for a group of athletes hailing from the southwest region. An anonymous athlete, on behalf of the stranded participants, has reached out to shed light on the harrowing conditions they have been facing since their departure on Thursday, December 14, 2023.

The athletes, eager to represent their region at the sporting event, say they find themselves in a dire predicament in Ngaoundere, a city en route to Garoua. Shockingly, as of today, the 17th of December, they remain stranded without access to basic necessities such as water, food, money, and transportation.

The anonymous athlete revealed the grim reality of their plight, stating, “It’s so disheartening and painful that athletes left the southwest on Thursday, the 14th of December, and till now, the 17th, they are stranded and frustrated in Ngaoundere with no water to drink nor take a bath, no food, no money, and no means of transportation.”

Adding to the severity of the situation, it has been reported that many athletes have fallen ill, with five of them resorting to managing a single bottle of Supermont, a stark reminder of the desperate circumstances they find themselves in.

“What was supposed to be a celebration of sporting prowess and unity has turned into a nightmare for us. This is a region we are going to represent, yet people’s children are left with fears of the unknown, and the fate of their journey is seemingly left to chance, thus diminishing the grandeur this event deserves,” the anonymous athlete expressed.

The plea for assistance is evident in the athlete’s words: “Please help us cry on our behalf; we don’t have food, water, or money, nor do we know when buses will be available.”

Approximately 1600 athletes and their trainers are anticipated to participate in the upcoming competition, which will showcase ten different disciplines.

Here are the different disciplines.

Athletics
(Male and female)

Badminton
Male

Basketball
(Male and female)

Boxing
Male

Football
(Male and female)

Weight lifting
Male

Handball
(Male and female)

Jude
Male

Wrestling
(Male and female)

Volleyball
(Male and female)

By the time of this report, the situation had not changed according to our source.