Mr Kolley was speaking at the annual May Day sports awards and gala dinner at the Ocean Bay Hotel Saturday evening.
For the first time, the event was organised by the NSC which instituted a National Organising Committee to run it after the GNOC was stripped of the right to organise it in the wake of the impasse surrounding the Olympic committee.
In his address, Kolley reminded a large audience of workers-sports officials that the NSC will not allow any executive of a national sport association to operate without observing the NSC Act.
“I must, with heaviness of heart, say that our sports has suffered a great setback. This is not perfect but we as the national regulatory body of sports will ensure that this impasse is resolved,” he said.
Kolley said that The Gambia is a sovereign state with laws indicating how a national sports association status is attained. Based on that rule, he said all national associations must fulfill the set criteria, including having a national base and identity. He reiterated that their attainment of a national sport association status cannot be based on any supranational charter or laws of any international sporting body as the sovereignty of the Gambian state will not be compromised.
He emphasised that the NSC has no qualms with the GNOC as long it is run and managed according to the dictates of the Council’s Act as the NSC has never interfered with any association.
More than 60 companies took part in this years’ event and the night ended with presentation of trophies and awards to the companies.
By Lamin Cham
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