Sao Tome

Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Principe (PANA) – Fear of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus fever in West Africa has stopped the Macao national cycling team from China from taking part in the international cycling competition “Volta do Cacao” (Tour of Cacao) in Sao Tomé and Principe this year.

In a letter to Joao Costa Alegre, the chairman of the Sao Tome Olympic committee, the chairman of the Macao team, Alex Vong Lao Lek, wrote: "Because of the apprehension and worry about the spread of the Ebola virus disease, which has hits the African region, the team will take part in the next edition of the Cacao cycling tour only next year."

With the absence of Macao, only three invited countries will participate in the competition to be held on 28-31 August over a distance of 281 km.

The Macao national cycling team was the last during the last Cacao tour, a competition that was established by the Sao Tome and Principe cycling federation to promote that sport and tourism.
-0- PANA RMG/TON/CJB/IS/MSA/MA 21Aug2014