Ghana’s 100m national record holder and double Olympian, Benjamin Azamati, has called on Ghanaians to sustain and expand the Junior Olympics initiative following the successful conclusion of the third edition at the University of Ghana Stadium. The event provided a platform for young athletes, from Under-4 to Under-17, to showcase their talents.

Azamati emphasized the importance of introducing children to sports at an early age, drawing parallels with countries like the United States, where young athletes compete at a professional level due to early exposure. He believes the Junior Olympics is a critical step toward bridging the gap between Ghana and the global stage in athletics.

“This is absolutely the right path. In the U.S., kids are introduced to sports very young, and that’s why their talents excel on the world stage at 17 or 18. If Ghana’s current athletes had similar opportunities, we’d be at an entirely different level. There’s a future in this initiative,” Azamati stated.

He also advocated for a decentralized approach, urging organizers to extend the program to all regions to ensure inclusivity and nationwide talent development.