Walter Abmayr, course director of the ongoing Gambia-German Sports Cooperation programme, has said the aim of the programme is to develop sport from grassroots level.
“Our basic idea is to educate and train the young people at school,” he says.
The 64-year-old, who describes sport as an integral part of development of youth generally, says The Gambia plays a great part in terms of youth development given the fact that “even though the country is not highly developed in terms of infrastructure”, the talent development and identification has absolutely paid dividends.
Walter, who led PE teachers into rigorous two weeks of training sessions, added: “When we came in as German government with sport assistance programme, we concentrated on the youth at primary schools training the teachers in physical education.
“And we entered into an advanced course (third course) after we have made qualification to this stage during the basic examination course in April and September 2010.”
Walter, who in an interview with Pointsport, described social and health factors as important parts of youth development, also outlined the following development objectives including youth development, introduction of active sports in Gambian schools and communities, helping to improve and develop sports organization and management, improving the level of sports in the country, talent finding, development and improvement, sports infrastructure, creating opportunity for the youth through sports and helping them to have the opportunity to compete at various levels of sport in the country.
Walter, who is married to Sylvia Abmayr of
He is also a highly experienced and qualified coach of the International Olympic and World Athletics Championship.
