By Kawsu Daffeh
The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) on Monday launched a five-day basic sports medicine course for medical personnel attached to various national sports associations and federations, aimed at improving athlete welfare and strengthening medical support in sports.
The training, which opened at the GNOC House in Banjul, brought together officials of the GNOC, the Gambia National Sports Council, representatives of national sports associations and selected participants.
The initiative forms part of the GNOC’s efforts to strengthen sports development through capacity building, with particular emphasis on athlete health, safety and performance.
Muhammed Lamin Touray, secretary-general of the GNOC Medical Commission and course coordinator, thanked the committee’s leadership for supporting the initiative, describing the training as timely in view of the growing demands of modern sports.
He urged participants to take the course seriously and actively engage in both theoretical and practical sessions to maximise the benefits of the training.
Touray said the knowledge and skills acquired would help improve injury prevention and management, as well as support athletes’ recovery and safe return to competition.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, GNOC board member Abdoulie Kah underscored the importance of sports medicine in modern sporting activities.
He said the GNOC remained committed to investing in the training and development of athletes, coaches, medical personnel and technical staff, noting that athlete health was fundamental to sporting success.
Representing the government, Mahmoud Lamin Jawla, acting executive director of the Gambia National Sports Council, reaffirmed the Council’s support for initiatives aimed at advancing sports development.
He commended the GNOC for complementing government efforts to promote athlete welfare and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their respective associations and federations.
Jawla also encouraged them to help improve medical support services and promote safer sporting environments at all levels.
The five-day course will cover basic injury prevention, emergency response at sporting events, athlete nutrition and hydration, concussion management, rehabilitation and safe return-to-play procedures.
At the end of the training, participants are expected to be better equipped to provide first-line medical assistance during training sessions and competitions and work with coaches and sports administrators to safeguard athletes’ health and well-being.
The initiative reflects the GNOC’s broader approach to sports development, which recognises that athlete welfare and access to appropriate medical care are essential to the long-term growth and sustainability of sport in The Gambia.
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