By Arfang M.S. Camara
The Gambia Athletic Association (GAA) over the weekend successfully held its National Athletics championship which started from last week Thursday 19 to Sunday 22 May 2022, at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
This year’s championship, which is aimed at inspiring Gambian athletes, was also meant to nurture talents that will represent the Gambia in outside competitions.
Mr. Authur Johnson, Secretary General of The Gambia Athletic Association (GAA) said that this year’s championship brought together 20 clubs within the Greater Banjul Area, adding that the championship was meant to nurture talents that will represent the country in outside competitions.
“We organized this championship as part of the IAAF requirement to its member associations. We also aim to nurture talents that will represent the country in outside competitions,” he added.
According to him, there are no winners and losers in this championship, adding that instead there will be awards of certificates for participating institutions or clubs.
“There are no winners or losers for this championship. We don’t also attach any cash prizes or points to any clubs or institutions. We organized this to nurture talents for The country.”
Fatou Sanneh, an athlete from The Gambia Police Force (GPF) said that this year’s championship was well-contested like the previous years, adding that such competitions will go a long way in helping the young upcoming athletes who took up athletics as their sports.
According to him, she is very much happy with the turnout in this year’s championship compared to the previous years, while expressing hope that athletics is now getting bigger in the country.
“We are very much happy with the turnout at this year’s championship. We have not been seeing such spectators during the previous years, only during the Inter-Schools Sports competition,” she lamented.