A 6 man delegation of the Youth Olympic Games will depart today for Singapore to participate in the first Youth Olympic Games, which has been slated for August 14-28 this year. In a farewell speech yesterday at the NOC office, the President of the National Olympic committee Henry Moore said they are very happy for Sierra Leone to be part of the Youth Olympic Games and the athletes they are going to representing Sierra Leone are expecting to do their best.
He said that even though they are not expecting a miracle from the athletes, they will have to do your best during the games to bring home laurels. He also stated that they were given four universal places three in athletics and one in Wrestling but the athlete in Wrestling is 6 months younger than the usually age that is why he was removed even though they did everything to build a case for him, but was still rejected.
The Secretary General of NOC Joseph Nyande in his own statement said this is a wind of change as there have been lots of activities in this short period of time in Sierra Leone, especially in development of sports.
He said he is now happy that both the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) are now working together as a team so that they can be able to turn things around.
Nyande further stated that the decision taken on who should represent us was well defended and they stood by each other. Those who are going to represent us are not going there as individual but they are going as a team to represent the state so they are going to be careful what they will be doing during the games, because if they things go bad it will not be good for the country.
He also advise all the athletes to avoid doping as it is very bad that is why when some body is caught it is not only bad name for the individual but for the whole country. He also appeals to all the officials to take care of the athletes from now until they return back home.
The Director of sports Bai Kabia in his own contribution said he is happy as they are coming closer at a time like this to bid farewell to our nationals who are going out to be ambassadors of this nation.
He further appeals to each athlete to have respect for each other and help one another by way of encouragement. He told to them to wear the laurels and brings them home “we will be ready to cheer you on your return”.
Bai Kabia said that he is happy with what they are doing here as they are going through a change that is why they are coming together to work as a team.
He appeals to all Sporting disciplines that they have two partners the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and if they partnered with these two they are going to support them, but if they fail they will not receive any support from government.
The Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Athletics Association Idris Hamza Kamara in his own statement said he is glad as a Sierra Leonean to be part of the gathering and he is also proud that people are going out to represent the country. He told athletes to go by the rules and regulations of the competition.
While the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee Dr Patrick Coker in his own statement advised the chef de mission and officials that they need to guide the athletes during interview not to say anything political which will not be good for the country but they can say anything about themselves.
The delegation is comprises of Victor Hastings Spaine as leader of the delegation , two officials Veronica Makavore and Aminata Turay and three Athletes Nenneh Barrie, Mariama Conteh and Jimmy Thoronka.