GNOC sends Gambian Olympians on training camp in Italy ahead of Rio Games

As part of its strategic plan to better prepare Gambian athletes for a resounding performance at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) is financing a training camp for the three Gambia athletes in Italy.

The 200m sensational duo Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass and Judoka Faye Alex Njie are currently undergoing a training camp in Italy through scholarship from Gambia Olympic Committee.

Sprinters Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass, who won silver and bronze medals respectively at the African Senior Athletics Championship held in Durban, South Africa, in June, left Banjul on 14 July 2016 for a two-week training camp in Italy.

The two national record holders in the 200m (male and female) are training at the Centro di Preparazione Olimpica di Formia  in Formia,  a city in the province of Latina, on the Mediterranean coast of Lazio (Italy).

It is located halfway between Rome and Naples, and lies on the Roman-era Appian Way. It has a population (2011) of 36,331.

For his part, Gambian Judoka Faye Alex Njie has been on training camp in Northern Italy since the beginning of July.

The 73kg Judoka arrived in Italy after a two-week training camp in Paris, France, followed by a preparation competition in Hungary.

The Finland-based Gambian Judoka became the first Gambian judo fighter to win a silver medal in the history of the All Africa Games (AAG) in 2015 in Congo Brazzaville, securing qualification to the Rio Olympic Games through continental quota.

The son of former black belt holder in karate Ebrima Njie of Njaba Kunda of the North Bank Region, Alex did not think twice before choosing to wear the Gambian flag, despite a lot of pressure from other countries.

The 21-year-old, who fought in the 73kg category, lost to the Egyptian champion in the finals in Congo.

The Gambia athletes are expected back home on 27 July 27 2016 before departing for Rio De Janeiro on 30 July for the Games.

Rio 2016 Games will be held from 5 to 21 August 2018 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.