The first edition of The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) Sports Art contest for school children ended on Saturday at the GNOC Olympic hall in Mile 7, Bakau.
The five-day competition, which took place from 21to 25 February, with the theme: Sports and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect, was the first of its kind in the country.
The winners of the graphics work were Jeans S. A Carvalho, who took first position, and the only female contender Nelly Abigail Aubee, took second position. Emmanuel Michael Sunday grabbed the third position.
Prizes and certificates were given to contenders at the end of the competition
The chairman of culture and education commission, Alhagie Tamsir S. A. Njie, said the competition was a learning process.
“I think participants will make best use of the knowledge in the future; the contestants that have participated in this contest have taken a good step in the field of art and culture,” he said.
Alhagie Momodou Dibba, president of the GNOC, in his remarks, thanked judges and the participants for the good job done and promised participants that their work will be later sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July in London.
These works will also be given another judgment, where 50 exhibitions will be selected throughout the world, he added, saying: “We want to take art seriously in this country; we are also appealing to the commission to reach the schools for the schoolchildren to participate fully.”
The third winner of the graphic contest, Emmanuel Michael Sunday, gave the vote of thanks.
“I’m very excited today; I would like to thank the organisers for this wonderful initiative. I think the Ministry of Education will encourage the schoolchildren to participate in the field of art and culture,” he said.
