The National Sports Authority successfully convened a meeting on 20th December 2023, bringing together representatives, preferably Presidents and Secretaries, from all registered sporting associations. The meeting took place at 22 New Signal Hill Road, Off Congo Cross in Freetown. The primary agenda centered around the new registration criteria for the year 2024 and beyond, in accordance with directives from the Honorable Minister. Additionally, discussions encompassed relevant sports development issues within the country.
Director of Participants and Sustainable Development, Kelefala Stevens, spoke with representatives of different sporting associations during the meeting. He clarified that this gathering is a routine part of their annual general meeting, providing an opportunity for the National Sports Authority to engage with all sporting associations operating under its jurisdiction across the country.
Stevens emphasized that the purpose of the meeting was to formulate a five-year contingency plan outlining how sporting associations intend to operate. This plan includes working guidelines from the Authority, recognition from corporate institutions, and acknowledgment from the government during their functions. The director highlighted that the established rules and regulations are not novel; they have been developed through continuous engagements with various associations since the National Sports Authority’s inspection in 2019.
Stevens stated that the Authority expects sporting disciplines to align with the government’s “big five” priorities. In 2024, they plan to organize a National Sports Festival for all sporting disciplines in the country. The National Sports Authority is collaborating with local councils to stage this event.
Moreover, Stevens disclosed that there have been increases in the registration fees for sporting associations. The updated yearly registration fees are as follows: two million Leone’s for existing registrations and five million Leone’s for new registrations.
To gather input and feedback, the National Sports Authority distributed questionnaires to all present sporting disciplines during the three-hour meeting. Sporting associations are requested to provide responses to the questions and submit them to the institution before the end of the year, as new registrations are set to commence in January 2024.
