Gambian Athletes Off to Islamic Games

Gambia’s sporting delegation to the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games left the Gambian shores in the early hours of Sunday 7 May 2017 for Azerbaijan.

The Games are set to take place in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, from 12 to 22 May 2017.

The Gambia will be represented by 9 athletes drawn from 3 different sports, namely Athletics (6), Taekwondo (2) and Judo (1).

Speaking at a send-off ceremony held at the Olympic House, the president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), Dodou Capi Joof, reminded the athletes that they have been selected among a lot based on their performance to represent the country at the Islamic Games and it is a duty on them to be good ambassadors of the country.

He called on the athletes to have good behavior, as focus will be on The Gambia at this critical time in the history of our nation.

Mr Joof, who also doubles as President of The Gambia Athletics Association GAA), urged the athletes to be ready for any obstacles, saying any adventure has its own challenges.

For her part, the vice president of GNOC and IOC Member, Miss Beatrice Allen, told the delegation not to be carried away by the size of the big nations in the competition because The Gambia though small by side, is made up of great people.

She advised the athletes to be focused as the Islamic Games can be used as preparation for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020.

Miss Allen called on the athletes to be united and respect their coaches.

Anthony Tabal, a board member of GNOC, expresses similar sentiments.

Athletes Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass, who are presenting in France, will join the team in Bakau May 9, while Judoka Faye Njie and his coach Robert will arrive at the Games on May 10 from their base in Finland.

The Islamic Solidarity Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. The Games involve the elite athletes of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.

The Islamic Solidarity Games Federation (ISSF) is the organisation that is responsible for the direction and control of the Islamic Solidarity Games.

As many as 56 countries are expected to participate in the Games, which will feature 13 disciplines.

The first edition of the Games was held in 2005 in Saudi Arabia. The second event was cancelled after it had been originally scheduled to take place in Tehran in October 2009. Indonesia hosted the 3rd Islamic Solidarity Games in 2013.

The Gambian delegation is as follows:

1.         Papa Njie…………………… Chief  De Mission

2.        Adama Jammeh……Athlete (100m/200m/ 4 x100m relay)

3.         Abdoulie Assim………Athlete (200m/ 4X100m relay)

4.         Assan Faye…………….Athlete ( 100m/4x 100m relay)

5.         Ebrahima Camara……….Athlete  (100m/ 4x100m relay)

6.         Alieu Joof…………….Athlete (100m/ 4x100m relay)

7.         Miss Gina Bass………………..Athlete (100m /200m)

8.         Modou Njie ...............................Athletics Coach

9.         Babou Saine …………………Taekwondo ( 58kg)

10.     Babucarr Bopp………………….Taekwondo (68kg)

11.    Baldeh………………………..Taekwondo Coach

12.    Faye Njie…………………………Judo (-73kg)

13.    Robert Andrei Provuo…………..Judo Coach