For the first time in the history of Journalism in the Gambia, Women Sports Journalists are fully prepared to make a break through in the promotion and participation of women sports in the country.

That was the outcome of the two- day training course organised by the Gambia National Olympic Committee [GNOC] in collaboration of the International Olympic Committee [IOC] at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

The 25 Female Journalists, who took part at the course, wowed to break the long outstanding male journalists’ domination. The majority of the female participants, who spoke to Pointsports at the end of the course, expressed satisfaction on the outcome of the training and promised to embark on a sensitisation campaign for the promotion of women sports.

They all pointed out that from now on they would launch a national research to showcase old and present women athletes, players and administrators.

“The course is an eye opening for us and we would use it to fight for the cause of Women participation in sports nationwide” they promised.

It could be noted that 40 participants including 25 female and 15 male from print and electronics media as well as senior schools in the country took part in the two-day course. The International Olympic Committee [IOC] Director for International Cooperation and Development Thomas T.A.G Sithole conducted the course and was assisted by the Managing Directors of West Coast Radio and the Daily Observer Peter Gomez and Saja Taal respectively.

The Training programme was part of the weeklong Women in Sports Festival from the 16th to the 25th November 2006 on the Theme:” Mainstreaming Women in Sports- from Rhetoric to Action”.

At the end of the training course participants were awarded IOC Sports Writer Certificate.