By Sulayman Bah
Gambia Olympic Bureau’s Annual General Meeting Saturday went without incidents as general serene reigned.
Held at the Djelba Hotel, it was the first time public convergence of delegates to pass on without wrangling after a year of infighting between mainly factions of disgruntled affiliates and the Olympic Committee board, prompting government at one point to meddle into the bureau’s affairs thus forcing the office to close for seven months.
The furore was so intense that the International Olympic Committee warned of possible international suspension of Gambia thus leading the warring factions to make amends after some round of talks between government and the bureau’s top brass.
Organized for the bureau executives to give a detail rundown of its yearly activity report, including financial statement on expensesand for approval of its new budget, the sporting association delegates numbering twenty-one out of total of 25 members gave the presented dossiers a clean bill of health.
However, in scrutinizing the presented financial report, few queries were raised by the by the congress delegates who urged serving executive members to reduce expenses,including those on transport maintenance.
Golf and Cricket presidents Ebrima Jawara and Johnny Gomez implored the NOC committee to give a more explicit breakdown of expenses, funding and grants forked out to affiliate associations.
Responding, GNOC treasurer Ousman Wadda promised to make available copies of funding made to any concerned association.
There were also suggestions for the Olympic House to review random donations to associations and instead prioritise funding only to functioning affiliate sporting entities.
Earlier,Gambia Olympics President Momodou M. Dibba, in his report, gave the thumps-up for his team’s undertakings from 2013.
Citing the successful hosting of futbolnet held at the SK East Centre, Dibba revealed replication of the project is being mulled over in one of the country’s regions for funding once a plot of land is identified.
On the coming Rio Games, the association’s prexy said efforts are being made to ensure Gambia’s qualification and participation to the Brazil events and for it to benefit from $600,000 (six hundred thousand dollars) to be given to athletes winning medals in the Rio Games.
While recognizing the renewed hope ‘in the spirit of genuine reconciliation’ at the assembly, Dibba urged associations to help efface “the negative aspect of our sport”, including combating vices like doping, illegal betting, corruption, bullying and sexual harassment’
Secretary General Peter Prom delivered the bureau’s activity report from 2013 to 2014.
The 11million dalasi budget was approved.
