by Awa Gassama & Fatoumatta K Saidykhan
Sports for health, an annual event co-organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Health and Social Welfare will be held in March 11, 12 and 13 this year.
The event will take the same format, starting with a march pass from the Churchills Town Petron Station to the Serrekunda West Mini-Stadium in Kanifing, where various speeches would be delivered soon after which sporting activities would commence.
Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer, Marcel Mendy the Executive Director of the National Sports Council said the event is going to be held in a grant style in which during the events, medical tests would be conducted on diseases such as diabetics, high blood pressure, among others.
“It has been scientifically proven that most of us suffer from different illnesses due to inactiveness, hence we suffer from this due to lack of proper exercise as a result of that, us as the Ministry of Sport and Ministry of Health think we have a role to play in this to encourage people to take part in sports activities, encourage and put in place ideas and strategies to involve them in sports. We can only have a wealthy nation if we have a healthy population,” Mendy affirmed.
The participating teams in the various sporting disciplines are divided into five categories, namely; The Legislature, Judiciary, Executive, Business Community and Politicians. The different sporting activities include football, volleyball, among others.
Speaking further, Marcel Mendy disclosed that a trophy is allocated for each event, the winners, the goal scorers, best player, most active players both male and female. “Our expectations are to receive a huge turnout and make it a success hence the idea of Sports for Health is a laudable one. The event is not meant for active sports members but those who are not actively involved in sports; we are looking forward for many Permanent Secretaries, Ministers, and Managing Directors to come and participate in this great day,” he concluded.