I
the Treasurer of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) may take this
opportunity to thank all the associations who nominated me to continue to serve
them.
I
am obliged to inform the associations affiliated to the GNOC that there is a
constitution endorsed by the general body and approved by the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic solidarity (OS) as a working tool to
execute all our activities. For easy of reference please visit the IOC website
for the approved constitution at your convenience. The IOC /OS are the funding agency of the
GNOC.
Every
year the NOC receives an administration grant of 40,000 US DOLLARS to
facilitate staffing and running cost of the office. In addition, there is an Activity Grant of
85000 US DOLLARS which is to support associations preparing for Olympic
Games. The NOC has two development
officers whose work is to facilitate training and development programs for
associations through OS. It is the
responsibility of every association to develop their training programs.
The NOC has to account for every dollar that it receives from OS and this has to be
audited. It is worth noting that the NOC
was satisfactorily audited at the request of OS by one of the most reputable
audit firms in the world in PricewaterhouseCoopers. These two grants are given
to all the 206 NOC EQUALLY and there is a formula which guides all expenditures
and the NOC cannot go wrong as all expenditures are done according to OS
requirements.
Extra
funding to the NOC is project based. The
benefiting association submits its project proposal (e.g. training of coaches)
to the NOC who would send the request to OS for funding. The NOC would receive 80% of the funds
required and the 20% is received after the activity. The NOC is required to refinance the
20%. With regard to travelling, most of
them are OS funded for the President and Secretary General.
It
is worth noting that last year a reputable international audit firm
PriceWaterHouseCoopers were sent by Olympic solidarity to audit our accounts.
After completing their audit they made their recommendation to Olympic
solidarity. However the audit was positive and all recommendations have been
implemented.
During
my presentation in Lausanne I had discussions with officials of Olympic
solidarity regarding our NOC, the controls we apply on our finances. In fact OS
will be writing to the GNOC to seek permission to use our financial manual as a
model for other NOC’s. This is laudable
and a testimony that our financial management systems is reputable. This is why Gambians hold positions in
international sporting organisations both at executive and commission levels.
I
would like to urge all members of the sporting fraternity in The Gambia to join
hands and work as a team to develop our sport.
It
could be recalled that during the recently concluded Rio Olympics, we had a
meeting with the president of the International Handball Federation facilitated
by our OIC Member.
We
were able to secure approval for 75,000 US Dollars to finance the purchase of
equipment. This is a testimony that whatever we do is in the interest of the
Gambian athlete.
Prepared
by GNOC Treasurer Ousman Wadda
