GAMBIAN FLAG TO FLY AGAIN
It ended its 50-year membership of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2013 but now the tiny African nation has launched a last-minute bid to reclaim its place in the Games family and ensure its athletes line up alongside some of the world’s best on the Gold C
FORGET the race to win gold on the track at the Carrara Stadium or in the Optus Aquatic Centre swimming pool.
One of the most intense sprints of the 2018 Commonwealth Games has been the race to ensure the tiniest of African nations can be part of the sporting extravaganza.
“To bring The Gambia back into the Commonwealth Games family would be a great achievement,” Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) president Louise Martin said ahead of a looming vote that would allow six of the country’s athletes to make an emotional return to the international competition.
“We have raced against the clock to put forward a resolution at our upcoming General Assembly (on March 31) – in line with our constitution – to approve the nation’s application to rejoin the CGF.
“I urge all our members to carefully consider the proposed resolution and pave the way for Team Gambia to compete on the Gold Coast in just (21) days.”
The Gambia – home to 2 million people on the west coast of Africa – withdrew from the Commonwealth of Nations in October 2013, ending almost 50 years of membership and ensuring its absence from the 2014 Glasgow Games.
At the time, the Gambian government said it had decided the country would “never be a member of any neo-colonial institution … (or) party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism”.
A change of government in early 2017 saw a change of heart, with newly elected Prime Minister Adama Barrow swiftly reapplying to join the CGF, a voluntary association of nations and territories committed to democracy, development and human rights.
Last month saw the Gambian flag once again raised at London’s Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat that saw its 52 member states unanimously support the nation’s return to the organisation.
Now, with a mere three weeks until the GC2018 opening ceremony, Gambian sporting powerbrokers are hoping the same flag will soon be flying at Parkwood’s athletes village.
“We appreciate that it is a last-minute dash but the opportunity for our athletes to compete at the Games on the world stage on the Gold Coast is just too important to miss,” Gambia National
WE APPRECIATE THAT IT IS A LAST-MINUTE DASH BUT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR ATHLETES TO COMPETE ... ON THE WORLD STAGE ... IS JUST TOO IMPORTANT TO MISS DODOU J JOOF
Olympic Committee president Dodou J Joof said.
“Since the formal announcement from the Government and Commonwealth Secretariat in February, we have been working closely with the CGF to explore and approve the participation of Team Gambia at GC2018.
“We thank everyone for their support and look forward to a positive decision on March 31. In the meantime, all our efforts are focused on selecting and preparing six athletes in readiness for competition in Australia.”
GC2018 would be The Gambia’s 11th Commonwealth Games appearance, having last participated at Delhi 2010 when the nation fielded athletes in athletics, boxing and wrestling.
Its first and only Games medal was won at its inaugural Games appearance in Edinburgh in 1970 when Sheikh Tidiane Faye soared to bronze in the high jump.
Seventy nations and territories, boasting more than 6600 athletes and officials, have already been locked in to call the Gold Coast home during the Games – but one gets the impression GC2018 boss Peter Beattie will have a soft spot for what is shaping as number 71.
“The diversity of the Commonwealth is what the Games so special so it is great to have another wonderful African nation competing,” he said.
“GOLDOC is pleased to welcome The Gambia back into the Commonwealth and even more pleased to have a team represented on the Gold Coast in April.
“In a matter of weeks, we will be welcoming teams into the athletes village and I personally look forward to welcoming Gambia’s athletes.”