Olympic House still closed -as list containing names of barred persons given to security personnel stationed at NOC headquarters

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By Sulayman Bah The Gambia National Olympic Committee headquarters is still MomodouDibba and Beatrice Allen of the GNOC    NSC’s EbouSeckaclosed despite being declared opened by the National Sports Council following its initial closure four months ago, Foroyaa Sport can report. The Olympic House was re-opened last month after it was rendered inaccessible to staff and executives alike by PIU officers who acting on orders, forced the complex to cease operations. The National Sports Council cited plights of staff of the NOC and athletes caused by the closure, as reason for re-opening it while barring board members of the bureau from getting any near to the office. The NSC’s announcement triggered mixed reactions, and, unhappy with the council’s decision to pick and choose who gets in and out of the GNOC headquarters, the staff at bureau decided to boycott the office in show of solidarity with their executives who are being denied entry into the place. A visit to the aforesaid bureau headquartered in Bakau -shows a desolate empty structure. In a new development, this publication understands, a list containing names which determines who access the bureau has been given to security personnel stationed at the GNOC gates. “Only staff will be given access, even associations are not allowed in,” a source intimates to Foroyaa Sport. Reached for comments, Sports Council’s Ebou Secka said he’s unaware of such development and cannot comment on it. Talks had been held in Switzerland over burying the hatchet between the MOYS, NSC and GNOC. Agreement was reached in the negotiations hence the reopening of the place. However, it appears this new truce has so far failed. An analyst and also a keen follower of twists and turns in Gambian sports adding his bit in the wake of the new developments, predicts looming trouble. The GNOC has been involved in a series of disputes with the NSC prompting the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to condemn government interference in the affairs of the bureau. The furore between the two began after the Council – a technical arm of government – questioned the credibility of the NOC’s elections after Sheriff Jammeh, rival candidate to then incumbent Momodou Dibba boycotted the polls raising issues with the voters’ list.        ]]>