FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
Musa Barrow
1 June 2011
Athletes with disability are being prepared to qualify for 2012 Paralympic games in London, said Mr Sulayman Colley, head of Gambian Paralympic Committee.
Mr Colley described his athletes’ chances of making it to the premier event for paralympians as good.
“We have an ample opportunity to qualify for the London games,” said the head of Gambia National Paralympic Committee.
However, he added that before his athletes make the trip to the British capital, they must first prove themselves at the All Africa Games to be hosted by Mozambique in September.
According to him, the All Africa games will serve as a spring board through which outstanding athletes can secure their places in the London games.
Colley said that 7 athletes are training to take part in the All Africa Games. Six of the athletes being prepared are wheelchair runners, 3 of which are females. The remaining spot goes to a table tennis player.
The head of Gambian Paralympic Committee hopes that his athletes are given the chance to take part in the forthcoming games.
He recalled that in 2008 when his athletes were on the verge of travelling to Algeria to take part in the All Africa Games, they were told that they could not do so because funds were not available.
The eleventh hour announcement by the then Executive Secretary of National Sport Council Donald Socke, according to Colley shattered his athletes’ dream of participating in the Beijing Paralympic games.
“We don’t want a replica of what happened in 2008, because if any country wants to excel in sport, it has to encourage participation for all,” he observed.
He expressed frustration that at times disability sports are not given the support they deserve.
He however hopes that this trend will be a thing of the past, saying the current Gambia National Olympic Committee has shown signs indicating it is going to break with the past.
He also argued that the inclusion of persons with disability in sports could eventually eradicate the syndrome of begging.
Colley expressed optimism that if his athletes are given the chance, they have what it takes to make the country proud.
He further described his athletes as the best in the Sub region, saying they confirmed their dominance over their counter parts in recent competitions.
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