Olympic gold medallist will represent athletes in scandal ridden sports body
Panama’s Olympic gold medallist Irving Saladino took on the role of s technical director of the Panamanian Sports Institute (Pandeportes), on Friday, August 16, raising hopes of underfunded athletes that they will now have a voice in the scandal-plagued bureaucratic institution.
The entity says that Saladin will contribute his experience and knowledge in favor of the athletes.
Saladin said he was happy with the designation. “A dream that we had been looking for a long time and has been fulfilled. We hope to give the best to athletes. ”
“I was an athlete and I know what is happening … There are certain things that must be improved in sport and this designation is a great opportunity,” he said.
“There is much to change within the institution. We must improve the statutes of the federations where many people have been for years. That has been the defect of national sport, so we hope to correct many things ” he added.
Saladino, was the winner of the gold medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
