The president of the Gambia National Paralympics Committee, Sulayman Colley, who led the Gambian delegation to the 2012 Paralympic Games in the English capital of London, said high performance from the athletes can make a change in the lives of person’s with disability in The Gambia.

Colley made these remarks at the welcome ceremony of the Gambian team at the Paralympic Village, Plaza at Stratford in East London which a couple of weeks ago was a host to thousands of able athletes at the XXX Olympiad.

As Fatoumatta Sawo, who accompanies the team as its press officer reports, Colley at the welcome ceremony raised the Gambian flag, followed by the singing of the country’s national anthem. “I am very proud to see my flag raised and the singing of the national anthem. I am now looking forward to see my athletes perform to make a change in the lives of persons with disability in The Gambia,” Colley said.

The GNPC president noted that it is an achievement to participate in the Paralympics Games after a very hard struggle, sacrifice, and determination, which kept the Gambia Paralympics to this level, “with little support and care from Gambia sports authorities”.

Delivering her welcome speech at the Paralympics Village, Mayoress Eva Guttman said Britain cannot wait to see the great talents across the globe, noting that everyone participating in the Paralympics Games is a champion. According to Eva, the games are coming back to where they started. “We want to inspire lasting games throughout the world through sports and you the athletes can make us achieve that”, she noted.

Meanwhile, the eyes of the Gambia in the Paralympics Gkkames are Demba Jarju, who qualified straight to the London 2012 Games with a timing of 30 seconds in Tunisia, while Isatou Nyang went through the wild card arrangement.

Demba Jarju will participate in the 100, 200 and 800 meters sprint event while Isatou Nyang will participate in the 100 and 800 meters.