By Sigismond Nicol
On this day 23rd October 2021, at an Elective Congress and General Assembly at the Neguz Negaz Complex in Grafton, the delegates of the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association duly elected the swimming Executive Committee headed by President Mohamed Abdul Turay to serve for a period of four years.
Congratulating the Executive Committee members of the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and water polo Association, President Mr. Mohamed Abdul Turay said, “I have watched you try and fail, learn and grow over the past year. And I’m glad to have found an Ex-co like you. You and your contributions have meant a lot to the growth of the Association”
“Congratulations on yet another year for setting an example for everyone on what it means to work hard and demonstrate a never-ending team spirit. That is why FINA classed us a National Federation with high level of Governance Structure and that is why H. E. President Bio in his speech to the Parliament of Sierra Leone mentioned us as one of the associations that are representing the country admirably and raising the country’s flag high internationally.
“Happy Anniversary to us all and I wish you all the best,” he ended.
BRIEF ACTIVITIES UPDATES DURING THE ONE YEAR IN OFFICE.
ATHLETES TRAINING, EDUCATION AND SUPPORTS
The Association has been continuously training and developing the Athletes Development Pathway so that we will be prepared to represent the country in World and Regional Competitions. Transportation assistance is provided to them every day.
Joshua JJ Wyse, Oly, Team Captain served as the country’s male Flagbearer at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Tity Dumbuya, Oly, was awarded a training scholarship by FINA to train in the FINA Development Center in Accra.
Thirteen athletes between the ages of 9 and 18 years were given Educational Support of Five hundred thousand (Le. 500,000) to prepare for the new school year.
All thirteen swimmers were successful in the year with four of them having good grades in the BECE and two others getting good grades in the WASSCE. All international-level athletes were awarded ADEL (Anti-Doping E-Learning) program certificates after successful passing the Anti-Doping exams“`
COMPETITIONS.
Over the past year the association represented the country in several International Competitions (FINA World Championship In Abu Dhabi, UAE.; 8TH CANA ZONE ll African Swimming Championships In Dakar, Senegal; the Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham England, etc)
MEDICAL FACILITIES.
The Association has a Team Medic who is present at all training sessions and who provides medical attention to both athletes and coaches whenever necessary.
OFFICIALS EDUCATION.
The Association continued supporting the Secretary-General, Abdul Turay, as he completes his Undergraduate Education at the Fourah Bay College, USL in the field of Social Sciences.
Swimming President Mohamed A.Turay and five coaches were awarded ADEL (Anti-Doping E-Learning) program certificates after successfully passing the Anti-Doping exams.
Manso Sankoh, Team Medic,was among the first five trained Doping Control Officers by the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone
STRUCTURING OF REGIONAL BODIES.
The Association supervised the Northern Region Swimming, Diving Association Elective Congress in April this year. Tours to the other regions are being planned.
PRESIDENT.
“Our President attended the FINA Extraordinary Congress 2021 in Abu Dhabi, UAE; and together with Philip M. Bangura the Association’s Vice President he attended the FINA Extraordinary Congress 2022 in Budapest Hungary.
President Mohamed Abdul Turay was elected to serve for five years in the CANA (African Swimming Federation) Zone 2 Bureau at CANA Zone 2 Elective Congress on May 2022 in Dakar.
MEDIA DEPARTMENT.
Aside from managing the Association’s website, www.saloneswim.com, and other social media handles, our pro-active Media Department, to keep up with modern trends, has introduced our online TV Tag SLSDWA TV and virtual program dubbed Swimming Hour to promote the ideals and the activities of all members of the Association locally and internationally.
WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION.
Our Female Representative, Ms Hawa Dauda traveled to Makeni to organize a training clinic on Menstrual Hygiene and Sexual Harassment in collaboration with the Northern Region Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association.
Swimming suits and sanitary items were distributed among the girls ending with a swimming competition organized for the ten female swimmers who benefitted from the training.
All girls will be given certificates of completion of the training while the first three girls will be given cash prizes as a way of inspiring them to work harder and represent the country like their counterparts in Freetown.
SECRETARIAT
After a notice was given to the association to relinquish the Siaka Stevens Stadium because of the ongoing renovation project, Secretary-General Abdul Turay secured office space for the administration of the association @No 66 Kroo Town Road, Freetown.
The new office has 65 inches Smart TV and 24 hours internet services and other modern office equipment that befits a reputable organization.
