The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ongoing 24th CAA African Senior Athletics Championship has strongly denied claims that it provided defective pole vault equipment to athletes competing at the championship following a frightening incident involving a Beninese athlete.
The controversy emerged after Benin’s pole vaulter, Aldo Mariano Sedjlo, suffered a scary moment during the Decathlon event when his vault snapped mid-air while attempting a jump on Tuesday.
The incident quickly sparked criticism on social media, with questions raised over the quality and safety of equipment being used at the competition.
However, speaking at the championship’s daily press briefing on Thursday night, the Madam Veronica Commey, a member of the LOC, firmly dismissed suggestions that the broken vault belonged to and was issued by the organisers.
She insisted athletes competing in the pole vault discipline used their personal equipment throughout the competition and not materials supplied by the LOC.
“I will like to category and firmly state that, that narrative is completely false. The LOC did not provide vault for athletes and all vaults being used at the championships are owned by the individual athletes.”
Veronica Commey, LOC member
The organisers explained that while technical officials inspected equipment before competition, ownership and responsibility for the vault poles remained with the athletes and their federations.
Federation President Affirms LOC Position
Benin Athletics Federation president Visit Dugon also backed the LOC’s clarification, confirming that the snapped vault belonged to the athlete involved and not the competition organisers.
According to Dugon, the equipment had undergone inspection procedures before the event and was approved by technical officials in line with championship regulations.
His comments appeared aimed at easing growing criticism directed at organisers over safety concerns after images and videos of the incident circulated widely online.
Dugon further assured the athletics community that Sedjlo escaped serious injury despite the terrifying nature of the accident.
He disclosed that the athlete is “doing very well” and remains in stable condition following medical assessments after the event.
LOC Addresses Initial Challenges
The LOC used the opportunity during the daily briefing to address several concerns surrounding the championship, which has experienced criticism in recent days over logistical and organisational challenges.
Officials admitted there had been early difficulties regarding technical equipment but insisted those problems had now been resolved. “I would like to report that the initial challenges faced in the area of technical equipment have been fully addressed,” the statement noted.
The organisers also responded to concerns over feeding arrangements for athletes, rejecting claims that inadequate food had been provided during the competition. “On the issue of feeding, I’ll like to emphasize that the earlier reports from the athlete on the rationing of food has been independently verified to be false,” the statement added.
LOC officials maintained that athlete welfare remains their top priority despite the criticism that has surrounded the championship over the past few days. “The LOC would like to assure the athletes, the media and all stakeholders that we prioritize the need of athletes especially, and all stakeholders alike and will not stop at continuously improving services for everyone’s comfort,” organisers stated.
The committee further acknowledged that hosting a major continental competition naturally comes with occasional setbacks but stressed their commitment to delivering a successful event.“While we appreciate that there may be gaps as pertains in all mass events, we are dedicated to hosting a good championships and welcome feedback on occasional challenges that need addressing,” Veronica Commey said.
Meanwhile, officials say technical delegates will continue monitoring all equipment used during competition to ensure athlete safety throughout the remainder of the championship.
The African Senior Athletics Championship continues in Accra with athletes from across the continent competing for medals and qualification marks for upcoming international events.
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