The National Sports Council under the Acting-Executive Secretary, Abdul Aziz Titao Mendy, has issued a strong statement to challenge the decision of the National Assembly Select Committee on Youth and Sports with regard to the Gambia National Olympic Committee's Presidential election.
Below is the full text of the release:
The National Sports Council (NSC), an autonomous body established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 with a mandate to regulate all sporting associations and organisations in The Gambia, hereby informs all stakeholders and the general public that the voter list for the much anticipated GNOC presidential election is still being contested.
The National Assembly Select Committee on Youth and Sports was invited to help address the GNOC presidential election impasse after NSC and GNOC could not agree on some issues relating to the election. However, the proposed voter list from the National Assembly Select Committee on Youth and Sports includes sports associations that are not registered or affiliated with either NSC or GNOC. This voter list is unacceptable because only sports associations that are legally registered or affiliated with both NSC and GNOC are eligible to vote in GNOC presidential elections.
The National Sports Council is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the election of officials for GNOC leadership. Article 11.1 of the National Sports Council Act states: "The Council shall ensure the election of an Olympic Committee in accordance with the Olympic Charter for the purpose of ensuring The Gambia’s effective representative at each Olympic Games and for carrying out functions related thereto. Members of the Olympic Committee shall hold office on such conditions as provided by the Olympic Charter."
The National Sports Council is committed to a quick resolution of the GNOC presidential election impasse. To this end, NSC for now advises the Ministry of Youth and Sports to set up a Tribunal (as stipulated in the National Sports Council Act) that will review and endorse all decisions relating to the conduct of a free and fair GNOC presidential election.
The NSC is closely following events as they unfold. We know that sports and the development of sports are highly supported by Government which NSC highly appreciates.
