Kalkaba Malboum president of the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSC) has been rewarded with the trophy of excellence for representing Olympic values.
The trophy was given handed to the CNOSC boss during a ceremony that took place on Friday in the premises of the CNOSC building in Yaoundé while welcoming Thomas Bach president of the International Olympic Committee.
Rounding up his African tour which took him respectively to Cape Verde, Senegal and Nigeria, Thomas Bach was in Cameroon to take a pulse of how Olympic values are promoted. Thomas Bach was accompanied for the occasion by Mustapha Berraf president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
“Your presence in Cameroon attest the strong relationship that exists between Cameroon and the International Olympic Cameroon” Kalkaba Malboum said during his welcome speech to Thomas Bach.
Kalkaba Malboum made mention of the fact the excellent relationship between the IOC and Cameroon is characterized by the appointment of three Cameroonians as members of IOC that is Pr Rene Essomba of blessed memory, Issa Hayatou Honorary member of the IOC and Mrs Odette Assembe Engoulou recently appointed.
The IOC president on his part said he came to show appreciation to the CNOSC president for the great work he been doing for the Olympic movement in the recent years.
Thomas Bach equally used the occasion to hand Mrs Odette Engoulou an Olympic medal and officially welcome her as an IOC member.
The ceremony was attended by some Cameroonian sporting icons like Patrick Mboma, Wome Nlend, Jean Paul Akono and some members of the Indomitable Lionesses team.
Before coming to the CNOSC gardens, Thomas Bach and his delegation were received by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education Pr Narcisse Mouelle Kombi.
Jonathan MBIAOH
