In his remarks, minister Badjie said as a country they are proud of everyone that is involved in the process of the Olympic Games especially the athletes. He added that not everyone gets the privilege to qualify for the Olympics and therefore expressed pride in the increased number of athletes that qualified for this year’s Olympics.
He expressed optimism that The Gambia in the near future would double the number in the next Olympics.
He told athletes that it’s the desire of the country to go home with some medals this year but was quick to add that they will not put any pressure on any of them.
“We believe that you have the potential to do so,” he also told them, while expressing hope that they will continue to do well.
He also advised them to be good ambassadors for The Gambia on and off the tracks.
Minister Badjie said the government of The Gambia will continue to do its part for sports development.
Ebrima Jawara, Chief De Mission for The Gambia for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, told athletes that just by representing The Gambia at the highest level as far as sports is concern, they are already winners and as such they are proud of them.
Ousman Wadda, acting president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee, expressed optimism that the athletes would make the country proud. “We are confident all of you will excel in your respective competitions,” he added.
Facuru Momodou Sillah, 1st secretary at the Gambian Embassy in France, on behalf of the Ambassador of the Gambia Embassy in France, expressed hope the athletes would win the highest number of medals for The Gambia during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
He thanked all athletes for their efforts in making them proud up to this stage. He also thanked President Adama Barrow for appointing a young person as minister of youth and sports.
Muhammed Jammeh, executive director for the Gambia National Olympic Committee, said the Ministry of Youth and Sports have been instrumental in ensuring they get to where they are today both financially and morally and therefore thanked them.
Ndey Marie Njie, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said having this number of athletes representing The Gambia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for the first time is a positive thing. She expressed her ministry’s readiness to support athletes to excel. “Let us work together and support each other to ensure we win as many medals as possible,” she appealed.
Adama Jammeh, team captain for The Gambia National Athletics Team, congratulated athletes who qualified for the Olympics but said that they did not have to stop at participation.
He highlighted that they have developed to certain levels and can even do better. He observed that with the collaboration of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Gambia National Olympic Committee, there is more room for development on the side of the athletes. He commended Minister Badjie for his open-door policy for athletes. Adama also encouraged girls to motivate their fellow women that they can do better than men.
