The lack of funds to pay for travel and living expenses in two international competitions is a dilemma athlete Wânia Monteiro and her coach Elena Atmacheva are hoping to resolve with the help of fellow Cape Verdeans.

With only days left before the start of the Corbeil-Essonnes international tournament, to be held in France between May 9 and 11, the team has yet to raise the funds necessary to pay for the trip.

"Even though our bags are packed, we still don't know how we're going to pay the expenses, which are near one million escudos [approximately 9,000 euros]. On May 5 Wânia will leave for São Paulo and I'll be leaving Cape Verde, and we'll meet in Corbeil-Essones. Participating in international events is fundamental, even when the athlete already has a certain level of experience," stresses the young gymnast's coach.

After France, Monteiro will head on to Belorussia, where she will compete in the World Cup in the city of Minsk. "This stage is very important for us. Before the competition, she will participate in a short training internship, in which she will be evaluated and during which we will be able to fine-tune various technical aspects with the help of coaches with experiences in high-level competitions," highlights Atmacheva.

According to the coach, Monteiro was able to sign up for the competition even after the March deadline "in a demonstration of recognition for the efforts undertaken to develop the sport" in Cape Verde. If Wânia Monteiro is forced to cancel her participation, the Cape Verdean Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation will have to pay a fine of 1,000 euros per event.

These two competitions are part of the gymnast's program of preparations leading up to her participation in the Beijing Olympic Games, where she will represent Cape Verde between August 8 and 24.

With a slot guaranteed through a Wild Card provided by Olympic Solidarity, Wânia Monteiro and her coach are fully aware that rigorous training will be needed in order to ensure a proper presentation. "The objective of the International Olympic Committee is the guarantee the presence of all countries, especially those in which sports are less developed. And we're not going there in search of medals, what we want to do is project Cape Verde's image in the world," concludes Atmacheva.