Funding Concerns Result in Malawi Withdrawing Team from London Paralympics

The International Paralympic Committee have revealed Malawi’s Paralympic team have not travelled to London for the 2012 Games due to a lack of funding.

The visually-impaired sprinters Chisomo Jeremani and Janet Shedani were set to compete in athletics at the Olympic Stadium in Malawi’s first Paralympics, but have not now travelled to the UK.

The non-participation of Malawi means 165 nations will be represented over the 11 days of competition, which begin on Thursday. The African country had been due to be one of 15 nations making their Paralympic debuts in London.

The London organisers Locog had provided some money to help fund the trip, but according to officials from Malawi it was not enough to send the full delegation, including guides for the runners.