The Gambia National Olympic Committee through the Olympic Solidarity in collaboration with ANOCA and IOC is organising a sports medicine course for national associations medical officials at the Djeliba hotel in Kololi.

The participants are drawn from various national associations across the country as well as officials from the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH), the Gambia Red Cross, The Gambia Fire and Rescue Service and The Gambia Football Association medical department.

In his opening remarks, the president of the GNOC, Momodou Dibba described the course as important and the first of its kind in the country. He disclosed that there are 53 NOCs in Africa and a total of 205 in the world.

Dibba emphasised the need for fitness, good health and a competitive mind. He urged participants to take the course seriously adding that the GNOC will continue to encourage medical committees to international level.

In his welcoming remark, the chairman of the GNOC Medical Committee, Petersdescribed the course as a step in the right direction. He appealed to the participants to be participatory during the course and capitalise on what the resource person will impact in them, and also disseminate the experience across the country.

The course director, Professor Antonio Roux, explained that the course will build the capacity of the participants in protecting the athletes in the field, female athletes, and children in sports, right nutrition, and trauma amongst others.

The chief medical officer of the Gambia Football Association, Kalifa Manneh stated the need for series of such courses to be conducted so that sports medicine will come to the doors of all sports associations in the country.