A five-day sports administration course for Higher Teachers Certificate, Physical Education and Major Teacher Trainees, opened yesterday at the Gambia College in Brikama.

The training, which is the first of its kind for HTC/P.E students, is  organised by the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) and Olympic Solidarity for twenty participants.

In his welcoming remarks, Mr. George Gomez, Executive Director GNOC, said over the years his Committee have provided similar training programs for Primary Teachers Certificate (PTC) students but this year they decided to extend it to the HTC students. “This is history in itself, and you are a part of the history,” he told participants. He said that before the P.E teachers reach the students they thought it wise to provide them with the training. The course, he said, is an international one as the same module is being offered all over the world. He stated that sports is the best avenue that can promote the name of a country.

 The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Mr. Sheriff Gomez, in his keynote address, applauded the GNOC and its partners for their continued support to sports development in the country. He said that training of this nature will provide efficiency in sports administration and encouraged the participants to take the training seriously by actively participating in all the deliberations.

Speaking earlier, Mr. Ebou Joof one of the course directors revealed that the areas to be covered include fair play, value and ethics of sports, office holders and their functions, challenges faced by sports administrators, women in sports, leadership, among others. The course, he said, is aimed among other things to assist participants develop a greater awareness in sports administration.

Other speakers include Mr. Badou Senghore, Principal Gambia College, and Mr.Fred Lloyd- Evans the second vice president of GNOC and also a course director.