The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), in collaboration with the Japanese embassy through APL Japan, yesterday signed a grant agreement for the implementation of the improvement of sports facilities for youth development project in the Kanifing Municipal Area worth D2,232,261 at the GNOC Olympic House in Mile 7.
The development came barely 46hrs after the election of Alhaji Momodou Dibba as the new president of the GNOC at the weekend in a crucial GNOC presidential election.
The project, according to officials, is the first approved project under the new scheme of cultural grassroots projects initiated and crystallised by the Gambia IOC member, Ms Beatrice Allen.
The inauguration of this project is in recognition of the importance attached to the development, improvement and access to sports facilities for all Gambians.
Dibba is so proud to be associated with the project, which is his first official engagement since his election as the GNOC president three days ago.
The project, according to the new GNOC boss, is designed for the improvement of sports facilities and development in the Kanifing municipal area.
"The project is also assigned to the purchase of eight complete home gym, four rowing machines, eight treadmills, four X trainer, four exercise bicycles, five sets of barbell and dumbbells, 20 gym belts, six gravity strider, six karate mats, and 200 karate protection," said Dibba, who won the majority of the votes in Saturday's GNOC presidential election.
"Through this project,
Also speaking on the occasion was the Vice President of the GNOC, Beatrice Allen.
She said: "When I go on my assignments internationally, I also mobilise resources for my country. I had a very good meeting with the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee in
Ms Allen said that during her discussion with the Japanese Olympic Committee, Mr Takeira, he accepted to help Gambian sports with the provision of a container of equipment, which was distributed to various sports associations in 2009.
She said that was not enough as Mr Takeira went ahead to connect her to the Japanese Ambassador in Dakar so that they could help in developing sports with substantial amount for the formulation of the project with the support of Alieu Cham, former executive secretary of the National Sports Council, and Lawrence Bruce, executive director of GNOC, which was approved in Dakar.
Beatrice Allen expressed delight having the project, saying if this was her last assignment as an acting-president of the GNOC, then she would be rest assured tha she had fulfilled her duty for her country.
According to Mr Shoji Otake, Japanese counsellor, who attended the signing ceremony, the project would implement vocational training, literacy training and many other activities for vulnerable children, especially orphans and the population in general.
