The 5th Conference of The African Sports Management Association ASMA opened at the Paradise Suite Hotel yesterday. ASMA is a renowned African forum for promotion of educational and professional sport management within Africa and beyond. It was founded in 2010 with a mission to strengthen sport management in Africa as an academic and a professional engagement. Delegates attending the Banjul forum come from The Gambia Kenya, Nigeria among other nations.
In his opening address to delegates Saikou Sanyang, permanent secretary at the ministry of youth and sports described the theme of conference “investing in grassroots sport, the surest way of achieving excellence in sport” as very apt considering the challenges and threats of sport development aspirations in Africa.
He said such a theme demands urgent action and commitment and that he is convinced that deliberations during the Banjul ASMA conference will enlighten and pave the way for developing strategies including local actions towards taking sports to another pedestral.
He assured that government is committed to investing in sports to engage young people meaningfully.
Professor Kihumbu Thairu president of ASMA said the lineup at the conference will be enriching and useful to ensure that participants make positive contributions towards the enhancement of sport management practices in Africa and beyond.
Lamin S. Jawara chairman of the national sports council said his institution would give all what it takes to participate and support the ASMA programme in the country.
He urged sport associations and federations present at the event to make the best use of the three –day conference.
Marcel Mendy executive director of NSC, the host institution, said the conference will avail participants the chance to build many bridges ”for the benefit of our continent “
He said ASMA has over the last ten years of its existence has become a catalyst for the development of sport in Africa.
During the conference delegates will offer coordination, leadership, and consultancy on matters pertaining to management of sports and sports-related professional disciplines and activities in Africa.
