Authorities of the host university have been working hard to alleviate conditions for athletes.

The number of complaints over poor catering services, lodging and generalized low-level organization of the games reduced as the competition entered the fourth day yesterday May 8, 2012. Although lodging cannot be compared to modern hotel standards for everyone, athletes contacted yesterday acknowledged that their conditions were getting better.

The Registrar of the University of Buea, UB, Professor Samson Abangma, explained to Cameroon Tribune that the initial shortcomings were expected for such a large number of athletes who converge on one campus. He however gave assurances that the hosts of the games were working round the clock to satisfy every need.

Lodging efforts this year were stepped up, compared to the games of 2006, especially as the number of athletes has increased considerably. UB with only a 100-room hostel, has had to stretch to nearby facilities and even private homes to get the over 3,000 athletes lodged. A total of nine committees, including lodging, were locally set up to ensure the smoothness of various aspects of the one-week sports competition. These committees report daily to the university’s management so that any lapses are immediately corrected.

In the area of feeding, various catering points for breakfast, lunch and supper exist on the campus. The final dinner to end the games will be in the Vice Chancellor’s residence next Sunday for selected guests. No sporting rendez-vous would tolerate deficiencies in the feeding of athletes because it affects their performance. Complaints were therefore rife among athletes on the first and second days of the games. Poor cooking, insufficient food, long queues and moved venues were their major grievances, but the situation is gradually improving. On Sunday May 6, some angry students even broke caterers’ plates at 3 pm because they were told their food was elsewhere