The Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation (SLGF) in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE) is commencing the phase 1 of the Development of National Sports System (DNSS) through the Federation of International Gymnastique (FIG) with supports from the Olympic Solidarity.

The week long training programme for 50 children between the ages 10 to 15 years from different schools started from Wednesday 24th May to 1st June 2023, at the Hill Valley hotel in Freetown.

Explaining the rationale behind the Development of National Sports System (DNSS) programme, the President of the Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation, Anna Williams noted that gymnastics is a big federation with 9 disciplines, noting that they are introducing the children to the rhythmic gymnastics which is one of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games sports.

She said the children were selected from different schools of which she had contacted the head masters and principals of the schools. “Before this, I’ve been trying my level best to make sure that I sent letters to over 20 schools for training the children in the schools and everyone of them were happy about it so with that we did selection from those different schools,” Madam Williams stated.

She furthered that they’ve matched up to what they’ve been expecting within this shortest possible time, which is to introduce the sport to the kids and that they’ve seen the love and passion the children have for the sport.

The President thanked the National Olympic Committee for making sure that they’ve the Development of National Sports System (DNSS) through the Federation of International Gymnastique (FIG) which the support of the Olympic Solidarity, adding that the NOC are the foundation in them having such training because they actually applied for them and it was approved by the IOC.

“I told the President of the NOC that we will not be participating in the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024, but we will be in the Olympic Games in 2028 and we will not only be participating but competing for medals.

“In this first phase, we are introducing to the kids the sports and are training them the basic skills. Within this short time these children has gained a lot in this first phase so I believe that with second and third phases coming in July and August this year, they will learn a lot especially with some of the current gymnasts who are assisting the expert to train to them and we shall have a crop talents in the future,” she stated.

Madam Williams appealed to parents to allow their children to be part of gymnastics especially the Rhythmic Gymnastics which is a very good sport for our children, calling on the Government to construct indoors facilities because the lack those facilities is also affecting the growth many sporting disciplines in the Country. “We have Africa have what’s takes to be great gymnastics it’s only that we don’t have the opportunities like the others,” the President affirmed.

Anna confirmed that the second and third phases will be in the Southern Region which will cover both the South and East, while the other phase will cover the North-East and the North-West so at least they would have all the regions involve.

In her part, TaTiana LavRenchuk, from the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique (FIG), who happens to be the IOC’s representative and the training facilitator, said she is here to help the Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation to start this new sports which is the Rhythmic gymnastics.

Rhythmic gymnastics is an Olympic sport in which athletes compete with 5 different apparatuses—hoops, ribbons, balls, ropes, and clubs—as well as in a floor routine. Whether you have dreams of bringing home the gold medal or are simply interested in trying something new, rhythmic gymnastics is a fun and challenging sport that allows you to be both creative and innovative.

“We are starting from the scratch wherein they don’t know anything about gymnastics so we are going to start from there. I’ve already eyed few talented ones who are very interested in the sport. I believe gymnastic start from discipline, no discipline no achievement. The first important thing in the basic training is to get the kids interested in the sports because you can’t force them to like the sport so we want them to like the sports and they will be interested in the trainings,” the Head Coach for the South Africa Gymnastic stated.

She also revealed that this is the first time she is coming to Sierra Leone and she will be here for all the three phases, calling on the government to support the Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation to develop the sport in the Country.

12 years old Joanita Abdulai, a form two pupil of the Freetown Secondary School for Girls expressed her happiness to be part of the first kids that participated in the training. “I really love this sport and I hope to be part of the second and third phases of the training because I want to follow this sport and represent Sierra Leone in future,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone under the leadership of Prince Suallay is making sure that the different sporting disciplines become active by organizing events or secure training programmes for them. In less than a month, the NOC has secured Olympic Solidarity training programmes for National Triathlon Association and the Sierra Leone Gymnastics Federation and also making sure that they mediates and settle the impasses within some of the association which are having disputes among themselves.