In communion with the 204 National Olympic committees worldwide and in accordance with recommendations from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) will celebrate the birth of the Olympic movement on Saturday 22 June 2013.
In fact it was on 23 June1894 that Baron Pierre de Coubertin was able to share a fabulous dream: the restoration of the Ancient Olympic Games that happened two years later in 1896 in Athens, Greece with the organization of the 1st Olympic Games of the modern era.
After 119 years, the entire national sports community in The Gambia will show its commitment to Olympic values through active participation in four key identified activities for the 2013 Olympic Day.
The gathering, to be held at the Serekunda East Mini Stadium, the temple of Gambia Olympism, will bring together thousands of young people under the motto “Move, Learn and Discover”.
On Saturday, the Gambia National Olympic Committee who is the ambassador of the Olympic Movement in the country, in collaboration with the Olympafrica center - Serrekunda East, will celebrate the day in a form of road race 3km, volleyball gala, handball, and kids athletics for schoolchildren commencing at 9.00 am.
“The Olympic Run has been a firm pillar of the celebration of the Olympic day run throughout the world and it is the biggest mass sport in the world, organised to celebrate the founding of the modern Olympic movement (IOC),” said Momodou Demba, development officer of GNOC and Coordinator of Saturday event.
He added: “Beside the activities, Olympic day is a great opportunity for a large audience to experience the Olympic values and live the Olympic experience outside Games times.”
VIPs, teachers, parents, children, journalists and the general public are invited to join the GNOC Board and Bureau members to the daylong ceremony where certificates will be presented to all participants.
Similar runs will be held at the Olympafrica Centres in Farafenni, Kaur, and Bulock respectively.
Signed:
Namory Trawally
GNOC Press attaché
