At least five sporting associations of The Gambia in the early hours of yesterday morning left Banjul International Airport for Maputo, Mozambique, to represent the country in the All Africa Games due to commence tomorrow, Pointsport can confirm.
The five associations are the Gambia Lawn Tennis Association, the Gambia Athletics Association, the Gambia Boxing Association, the Gambia Beach Volleyball Association and the Gambia Cycling Association.
The five sporting associations chosen by the National Sports Council to take part in this continental event were identified by their respective associations having met all the criteria to participate in the Games, this reporter has gathered.
The Gambia’s participation in the event is very important because it is an EU protocol event to which The Gambia is a signatory, officials said.
The All Africa Games competition would definitely go a very long way in trying to raise the profile of the country’s athletes in their bid to be exposed to high profile international competitions, more especially the Olympic Games and other world sporting championships.
Pointsport understands that the trip of the five Gambian representatives was jointly funded by the Gambia Government, the Gambia National Olympic Committee and the Gambia Cycling Association.
A confirmed report also reaching Pointsport desk has indicated that the self de mission or the head of the delegation to the all Africa Games, together with a journalist chosen by the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia to cover the event, could not go due to financial constraints.
