By Taban Gabriel
King News July Juba – All government delegations and fans selected to travel and support the National Basketball Team in France, Parish Olympic, under government sponsorship, will process their own visas individually.
The Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, addressed a press conference on Friday and said that all selected fans and officials will travel to Ethiopia to process their visas at their own cost.
“Owing to limited choices at hand, the Ministry of Youth and Sport would like to announce the following resolution: any individuals whose name was on the government-sponsored list is encouraged to obtain a visa in Addis-Ababa by 23rd July 2024, and all travels and visas cost to and from to be met by such individuals while those with foreign passport who do not need visa to France to report to the ministry on Monday 22nd July 2024.”
Minister Geng attributed the decision to the government’s failure to reach an arrangement with France’s Embassy in Juba regarding visa issues.
“The Ministry of Youth and Sport has since been engaging the Embassy of France to the Republic of South Sudan in Juba to either issue visas to government-sponsored delegations, issue visas on arrival, or collect passports and issue visas in Ethiopia. We regret to announce that none of these options is possible,” Dr. Geng said.
According to Minister Geng, the selected delegation to the Olympics will comprise a few government representatives and fans.
According to Minister Geng, less than ten officials from the government will accompany the fans to the Parish Olympic.
“The Council of Ministers passed a resolution resolving that owing to the prevailing situation, South Sudan’s delegation would be made up of a limited number of accompanying technical people from the Olympic committee and government,” Dr. Geng said.
The South Sudan Bright Stars is the only African male basketball team to play in the Parish Olympics.
In their preparatory friendlies, South Sudan won two matches against Portugal and Great Britain while losing to Argentina.
The Bright Stars will play the USA on Saturday, 20, in another tied friendly before heading to Puerto Rico in their first Olympic tie-on July 28, 2024.