By Alpha Barrie

The National Sports Authority (NSA) and the UNESCO National Commission have agreed to collaborate closely in endorsing Traditional Sports and Anti-Doping.

According to reports, both institutions held a closed-door meeting at the UNESCO National Commission’s Head Office located in the NCTVA compound on Tower Hill in Freetown on Friday, 24th May, 2024.

The Executive Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, and his team on Friday, 24th May 2024, held a closed-door meeting with officials from the UNESCO National Commission at the Commission’s Head Office in Freetown.

In his statement, Dr. Mohamed Kamanda, the Secretary General of the UNESCO National Commission, welcomed the NSA delegation led by Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, expressing his enthusiasm for the visit, underlining UNESCO’s significant focus on sports and ethical practices in sports.

He highlighted the importance of combating doping in sports, noting that it’s a significant concern for UNESCO and that they need to have a designated focal person to facilitate timely information-sharing between the two institutions.

For his Part, Dr. Abdulai extended gratitude to the UNESCO National Commission for promptly accommodating the meeting as requested by the NSA. He emphasised the Authority’s core objectives, which include sports development, advocacy against banned substances, and the promotion of traditional sports.

The NSA boss noted that traditional sport is aligned with UNESCO’s mandate on cultural diversity in Sierra Leone and the African continent, highlighting the role of sports in creating opportunities for the youth and addressing societal challenges.

He underlined the potential of sports in mitigating various social issues within communities and informed the Commission that Sierra Leone now hosts the African Traditional Sports and Games Confederation Secretariat, an indication that the country is leading traditional sports diversity in Africa.

In conclusion, the two institutions agreed to collaborate closely in promoting sports development and upholding ethical standards in sports, celebrating cultural diversity through traditional sports as they pursue their respective mandates.