2004 Olympic Champion Visits the DITC
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Dr. Marc Daniel GUTEKUNST, Ambassador Andrew YOUNG, Françoise Mbango Etone, Dannette LEININGER, Bertha NGOMBA ETONE
Atlanta, USA (January 2 - 8, 2005)
Françoise Mbango Etone is considering the DeKalb International Training Center in DeKalb County, Georgia, as her base of training for the 2008 Beijing Games. Mbango Etone, a Cameroon national, won the triple jump gold medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. She was in the United States as one of the eight Olympians, such as, Ian Thorpe, Nadia Comaneci, honored at Times Square New Year's Eve Ceremony by New York City 2012 Olympic Bid Committee. After the New Year's festivities, Mbango Etone spent 6 days in DeKalb County to visit the DITC. Françoise Mbango Etone's visit included touring the DITC facilities, possible training venues, DITC medical partners, DeKalb Medical Center and being introduced to Coach Nat Page. The visit was highlighted by an appearance at Tisha Waller's Ashford Park Elementary School. Ms. Waller a two time U.S. Olympian high jumper graciously invited Mbango Etone to speak to her class. DeKalb County CEO and DeKalb County Commissioners officially proclaimed Friday January 7, 2005, to be Françoise Mbango Etone Day. DeKalb County Executive Assistant Richard Stogner (DITC Executive Board Member and Deputy CFO of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games) presented to Françoise Mbango Etone the Proclamation in the DeKalb County's Maloof Building.
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Françoise MBANGO Etone, and Richard STOGNER holding the DeKalb County Françoise Mbango Etone DAY Proclamation
Meeting with Ambassador Andrew Young, Co-Chair of the DITC and Chairman of GoodWorks International concluded Mbango Etone's Atlanta visit. The Olympic champion explained her interest in furthering her education and spoke to Ambassador Andrew Young regarding Atlanta's educational opportunities. Ambassador Young's responded by explaining that it is the mission of the DITC to provide educational avenues to training athletes. Ambassador Young said to Mbango Etone, "I will do everything in my power to help you secure a scholarship in Atlanta." If Mbango Etone selects the DITC as her training home, she would join number of Olympians and aspiring Olympians who will be at the DeKalb International Training Center in preparation for the 2008 Games. Since the DITC opened its doors in 2002, 46 athletes from 16 nations including the US have trained at the facility. This includes four Olympians who competed in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, and one Olympian who took home a bronze medal from Athens.
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