International Women’s Day, and women are celebrated all over the world, and I take the opportunity to salute the women of the world, especially the Women in Sports.
On this commemorative event I would like to applaud our Gambian women who play their multiple roles of Producers, Reproducers, Caregivers, Community Managers, and vital Pillars of development in our Societies.
Therefore, when we engage women in the development process, especially in sports, their roles must be everybody’s business in order to achieve gender equality and social inclusion in sports, as enshrined in the Olympic Charter.
Over the years women have had to fight for access, equality and opportunity in sport, and the International Olympic Committee has been investing huge resources for access to sports by women and girls, through various projects and programmes through capacity building and integration. Women’s participation and inclusion in sports has risen to 50%, but getting in sporting structures is still at low ebb, especially in The Gambia. I would like to encourage the Gambia National Sports Associations/Federations to strive for Women’s inclusion in their Management Structures.
On behalf of the Olympic and Sports Movement in The Gambia, I pay homage to Gambian women and girls, especially those women in sports, who have represented and showcased The Gambia and brought glory to this Nation.
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’s DAY!!
Beatrice Allen
Gambia NOC President
& IOC Honorary Member
