With seven athletes, Tanzania become first nation to confirm Olympic team for Rio 2016
Fabian Joseph (Center) is among the team Rio 2016 celebrated an important milestone on Thursday (7 July) after receiving the first official team entry for the Olympic Games. Tanzania, a nation of about 50 million people in East Africa, confirmed that it will send seven athletes to the first edition of the Games in South America. “We are delighted and excited to receive the first official entry from a National Olympic Committee,” said Melina Xanthopoulou, Rio 2016’s sport entries manager. “Tanzania’s team will be smaller than most, but they will be warmly welcomed here in Rio and we wish them the best of luck.” The athletes who will represent Tanzania are: Fabiano Joseph (men’s marathon), Saidi Juma Makula (men’s marathon), Alphonce Felix Simbu (men’s marathon), Sara Ramadhani (women’s marathon), Andrew Thomas Mlugu (men’s judo, -73kg), Magdalena Ruth Alex Moshi (women’s swimming, 50m freestyle) and Hilal Hemed Hilal (men’s swimming, 50m freestyle). More than 200 nation