The Gambia Paralympic Committee has expressed its intention to organise its first disability sports event in July as part of its awareness raising in relation to sports and disabilities. The event will be sponsored by the British Big Lottery (BLF).
According to Sulayman Colley, President of The Gambia National Paralympic Committee, formerly
The Gambia Physically Disabled Sports Association, the event will be a three-day affair and will take place at the Serrekunda West.
"We intent to make it an annual affair and it will be sponsored by the British Big Lottery (BLF)," he stated.
He said many different events will be featured ranging from Wheelchair Basketball, wheelchair Athletics, Volleyball and football for the Deaf along with showdown and gold ball for the blind.
After making a successful outing in the 2007 Japhaf games in Mauritania in which they won a bronze and silver wear the Paralympic boss has also disclosed their readiness and preparation for next years Japhaf games in Niger.
"The Paralympics committee is ready to ensure that all disabled people are recognised in the field of sports. This was why we changed our name to the Gambia National Paralympic committee to be in line with the international requirement of the International Paralympic Committee and African sports Confederation of the Disabled," he explained.
He highlighted the fact that one of their major constraints is their lack of participation in the All Africa games. He said, "during the last All Africa Games, which we should have participated in, we where not part of the team that represented The Gambia as we where told the money was not enough to take us there. We could have made it and even qualified for the Paralympic games scheduled for latter this year," he explained.
