By Kemo Kanyi
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, on Wednesday officially opened the inaugural National Athletes’ Forum at Paradise Suites Hotel.
Organized by the Athletes’ Commission of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), the two-day event brought together athlete representatives from all 29 National Sports Associations and Federations affiliated with the GNOC. The forum aims to promote athlete-centred sports governance in the country.
In his keynote address, Minister Badjie commended the GNOC for convening the forum and emphasized that athletes are key stakeholders whose welfare and experiences should guide sports policy and governance. He highlighted the National Sports Policy as a framework to strengthen governance, improve infrastructure, promote grassroots and school sports, support elite athletes, and safeguard athlete welfare.
“The government remains committed to sports development under the leadership of H.E. President Adama Barrow,” he said, while acknowledging challenges related to athlete welfare, education, career transition, and life after competition.
Participants were encouraged to engage in constructive dialogue, promoting unity, discipline, and integrity within sporting institutions. The forum will also provide training, facilitate discussions on athlete-related issues, and generate feedback to inform future policies and programmes by the GNOC, the government, and its partners.
