By: Mohamed Abu Conteh
The Ministry of Sports in Collaboration with the National Sports Authority has on 6th April 2023 Joins the rest of the World to Celebrate International Sports Day.
The commemoration attracts all Sporting Disciplines in the Country as they join the Ministry to celebrate the day at Aberdeen Beach in Freetown.
In his Statement, the Minister of Ibrahim Nylenkeh said the Commemoration of the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace 2023 which takes place annually on 6th April. Noting that Sport has the power and Opportunity it presents for athletes and administrators alike to renew their commitment towards playing both indoor and outdoor sports.
He affirmed that there are huge plans to develop all Sporting disciplines to reach international standards, adding that their infrastructures facilities are going to be improved and there are plans to build a foundation going forward for the sporting disciplines to get indoor facilities noting that this year is going to be a good one for all the Sports in the Country.
Ibrahim Nylenkeh tell thanks to all Sporting disciplines for their show in the Celebration by making it look colourful.
Minister Nyelenkeh said this during the commemoration of the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace 2023 which takes place annually on 6 April.
The National Sports Authority (NSA) Executive Director Dr. Kenneth Brima, said that it is in their collective interests to harness the tremendous power of sport to help build a better and sustainable future for every athlete and noted that sports transcend territorial boundaries, religion, culture among many others things and added that the Cup of Africa Nations brought the entire country together and that synergy must be replicated before, during and after the June 24 general elections.
On her part, National Female Cyclist Fatima Deborah Conteh stated that sport is an important enabler of sustainable development and she recognized the growing contribution of sports to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect, as she had a firsthand account of that during her triumphant moment in Ghana’s Cycling Competition where she took gold for Sierra Leone.
The day which provides an opportunity to recognize the positive role of sportsmen and women through physical sporting activities played in Sierra Leone and the world at large was symbolized by a sponsored work from Congo Cross to Lumley Beach. The sponsored walk was geared towards the management of sports as a tool to create a safe space for youth who are actively engaged in sports.
The single-leg amputee Sports Club visibly demonstrated their tactics and dexterity in football along the Lumley beach to delight those gathered.
The theme for this year’s Celebration is Scoring for People and Planet for the 2023 International Day of Sport for Development and Peace emphasizes the power of Sports in promoting both human well-being and environmental sustainability.
The Theme highlights the role of Sports that sports can play in contributing to the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) Specifically Goal (3) Specifically goal3. Good Health and well-being and goals 13 Climate Action.
