The Gambia National Olympafrica, in collaboration with the International Olympafrica in Dakar and the Federation International Lutt Association (FILA), held a three-day wrestling course that commenced on Friday.
FILA is also known as International Federation of Wrestling Association.
The training for trainers course (ToT) was held at the Semega Janneh Olympic Hall in the Serrekunda East Mini Stadium.
The course was held to promote, develop and introduce wrestling at the grassroots level and the school system, especially in the lower and upper basic schools with its motto: “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Friday, Didier Favori, FILA’s representative at the training, expressed his delight for the fruitful partnership he has with the Olympafrica.
Participants should be able to give sound teaching to children at school, after undergoing such a successful training, the FILA representative said.
The Gambia is said to be one of the few countries that have benefited in this training, as well as Mali, Guinea and Senegal.
GNOC 1st Vice President and IOC member Beatrice Allen spoke on the significance of the course, saying wrestling as an Olympic game is still not happening in the country.
The Gambia has traditional wrestlers because The Gambia is one of those countries that have excelled, she added.
She also noted that one thing that is yet to be attained is the free style of Olympic wrestling.
“I am glad that FILA is here to help us start wrestling in the schools,” she said, adding that PE teachers have greater role to play in the schools, since the training could also serve as a springboard for more improvement.
She added: “I want identification of talents, and I hope the Olympafrica will then help us to identify people with good talents.”