The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member for Gambia, Beatrice Allen, on Thursday inspected the renovation work on the athletics track at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. The work is part of the major renovation ongoing at the country’s main multipurpose sports complex.![IOC MEMBERS 2]()
Beatrice Allen, who doubles as First Vice President of The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), was very instrumental in getting funds from IOC towards the acquisition of a modern athletics tracks for The Gambia.
She was accompanied by Marcel Mendy, the Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Pa Suwareh Faye the Acting General Manager of the Independence Stadium.
The project, jointly financed by the Government of The Gambia, the IAAF, IAF Foundation and the IOC through the GNOC, consisted of redoing the gutter ways and other major engineering work as well as the laying of the a world class athletics tracts by IOC appointed renown specialized company, MONDO.
After the visit, Beatrice Allen expressed her delight of seeing the country’s only sports complex regaining its normal athletics life after over five years of inability. She lamented that the National Olympic Committee has been spending huge amount of money in sending Gambian athletes in overseas training but with the completion of the tracks that money can be used into other areas of sports development. She advised the stadium management to take preventive measures in preserving the tracks especially during social events.
The GNOC’s Administrative Officer Muhammed Janneh and the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Sports at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Abdoulie Kah were also in attendance.
The project estimated over 400,000 Dollars saw the IAAF contribute 80, 000 dollars, IAF Foundation 100,000 Dollars and IOC through GNOC 160, 000 Dollars making it a total contribution of 340,000 dollars.
Source: Namory Trawally
Information Assistant, GNOC