By Nelson Manneh
The Gambia National Paralympic Committee (GNPC) in collaboration with the Rural Support Organization (RSO) of the disabled, recently convened a day-long educational training program for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Upper River Region (URR).
The training was designed to introduce para-sports in all the regions of the country.
The educational session was held at the Basse Area Council’s Chamber, and it brought together participants from various para-sports associations of different disciplines who were also introduced to core subjects which included the Paralympic Brand.
According to the organisers, the training was a path to motivate participants with self-confidence into the games with an awareness of the Paralympic Brand and how to develop the potentials of the athletes.
Participants were taken through a presentation on key learning outcomes which includes the National Paralympic Committee structure, athlete development pathways, athlete identification and coach development, and communicating key information.
Presentations during the session exposed participants to the values of courage, determination, inspiration, and equality which equally seek the need to go back to the grassroots to bring persons with disabilities into sports.
They further underwent various disciplines, such as Athletes, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Cycling, Paracanoe, Archery, Wheelchair Tennis, Rowing, and Powerlifting, among others.
Mr. Sainey Camara, the Secretary General of the Gambia National Paralympic Committee, revealed that the training was also part of GNPC’s recruitment process for the preparation of regional grand prix games, regional qualification games, continental, classification and for the next Paralympics Games set to take place in Los Angeles, United States of America.
“The training also aimed to get participants on board for athlete identification, to recruit them for the required sporting disciplines which will enable the GNPC to set the standard for the training and get them exposed into the Paralympic Games,” he said.
SG Camara said GNPC has been a member of the International Paralympic Committee since 2001 with good track records of participation by meeting the required membership code.
He added that GNPC had participated in many regional para-sports activities and the Paralympic Games, from Rio to Paris, France, The Gambia was represented which was an inspiration to them.
“We have realized that our international athletes are also aging and we want to increase the number of participants. We therefore thought it wise to reach rural Gambia hence our participation was centered in the Greater Banjul Area,” he stated.
SG Camara continued: “We have potential children or Persons with Disabilities who we can identify, recruit, and train by providing an athlete pathway as to who can do what? And at what level the person can participate in the sporting discipline that is going to be identified? We will also look at our strategic plan to see how we can support in order to overcome some of their constraints.”
Fatoumata Fatty, Chairperson of the Rural Support Organization and Basse Area Council representative for Persons With Disabilities described sports as a source of hope, confidence, and increased health.
She applauded and urged the GNPC to help them train a member of URR who will further train their people in the various disciplines. She also called for the need for a pitch for their para-sport training activities in Basse.
