(Wednesday July 20, 2016 Issue)
The
Gambia National Paralympic Committee (GNPC) yesterday partnered with Sulayman
Sowe, Proprietor of Independence Stadium gym to promote Paralympics in the
country as well as to build athletes’ level of preparation for the forthcoming
Olympic Games in Rio 2016.
The
partnership includes offering athletes free training, designing training,
designing nutrition plan and supplying them with clean pre- and post-workout
nutrition they could use to train better and harder as well as ease their
restitution.
Sulayman
Sowe, Proprietor of Independence Stadium gym, in his remarks, said he was one
day standing at the gym window and saw two Paralympic athletes training.
After
looking at the athletes for about 15 minutes he was delighted that they are
Gambians and therefore called and discussed with them, and they told him they
were preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Mr
Sowe said he then assessed the equipment and physical strength of the athletes,
and decided to offer them the opportunity to train at the gym for free since
Olympians should be physically fit than what he saw in them.
He
said the reason he decided to partner with the Paralympics committee is because
he felt he could contribute to helping the athletes.
Mr
Sowe said he would not make promises but would try his best to look for
sponsors for the athletes, adding that his dream is to one day see Gambian
athletes standing on the podium receiving gold medals.
He
said he had realised that Gambian athletes usually compete with athletes with
better equipment and better training, and as such called on all Gambians to
work together for “betterment of our athletes and sport”.
“I
appeal to all Gambian investors to put their names on these people by
supporting them,” he said, adding: “I hope we will all come out and support
them financially and mentally.”
Sowe
said there is no time limit to the partnership as long as the gym is operating
and they need to use it but that the number of athletes should be limited to
the most active ones because paralympians need space with their wheelchairs.
He
also thanked Allah for giving them the life, opportunity, strength, knowledge
and chance to do what they are doing.
Sulayman
Colley, president of Gambia National Paralympics Committee, described Mr Sowe
as someone with the “zeal and willingness” to be part of the development of the
nation.
He
added that their partnership began in 2003, hence called on people to emulate
Saul because “what he is doing in this country is not only partnering with us
but he is key in improving the health of Gambians”.
Mr
Colley said this will be their second time participating in the Olympic Games
but this is the first time they have had somebody apart from President Jammeh
and his contacts outside the country to support them.
He
therefore thanked the Independence Stadium gym proprietor.
He
said many a time people feel that when someone is disabled that is the end of
the road for that person, not knowing that the person has a way of contributing
to national development.
“Everybody
should give his support because today is us but no one knows what the future
holds,” he added, saying the disabled are part and parcel of society and have a
quota towards nation building.
Musa
Casa Taal, a veteran sports personality, for his part, said it is vital
supporting athletes.
He
described Mr Sowe’s gesture as remarkable and needs to be emulated by others.
Mr
Taal stated that Paralympics need moral support, especially these Gambians that
have been able to reach the Olympics, which many other sports players of other
national sporting disciplines in the country couldn’t.
They
should therefore be supported to be able to return home with gold medals and
success stories, Mr Taal said.
Malang
Tamba, a Paralympic athlete, in his brief remarks, said they were pleased with
the initiative meant to improve their health and develop their physical
strength and fitness level.
