The Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) yesterday sealed a historic partnership with Special Olympics Gambia during a signing ceremony held at the Ministry’s office in Banjul. Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, Minister of Youth and Sports, together with the leadership of Special Olympics Gambia, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening the nation’s commitment to supporting people with intellectual disabilities through inclusive sports.
The agreement marks a major step toward expanding opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities and advancing The Gambia’s efforts to build an inclusive sports ecosystem. The MoU seeks to raise awareness, train teachers and communities, and introduce programmes designed to bring together young people with and without intellectual disabilities through unified sports initiatives.
It also paves the way for further financial support to strengthen Special Olympics activities across the country, ensuring sustainability and wider participation.
Aligned with the National Sports Policy 2024–2034, the partnership reaffirms the Ministry’s dedication to creating an inclusive, supportive, and empowering sports environment that caters for the needs of every Gambian athlete. Minister Badjie described the partnership as “a transformational opportunity to champion inclusion and support some of the most talented and resilient members of our sporting community.”
Special Olympics operates in more than 170 countries with over 220 accredited programmes, providing year-round sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Its mission extends beyond competitive sports, promoting social inclusion through Unified Schools and Unified Sports—programmes that foster teamwork and friendship by placing individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams.
The MoU also formalizes the public–private partnership between Special Olympics Gambia and the Ministry in relation to membership in the Special Olympics Global Coalition for Inclusion—a multilateral initiative led by Special Olympics, Inc. The Coalition mobilizes national governments, UN agencies, global philanthropies, and industry leaders to scale up inclusive education through sports, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Present at the signing ceremony were the Acting Executive Director of the National Sports Council, Mr. Mahmoud L. Jawla; the Communications and Public Relations Manager, Sara Camara; and a high-powered delegation from the Special Olympics, including Driss Bensouda, Chairperson of the Board; Rebbeca Riley Bensouda; Charles Nyambe, President and Managing Director of Special Olympics Africa; Omar Touray, Technical Director of Special Olympics Gambia; and Shawn Ferguson from Special Olympics Global.
The partnership is expected to usher in a new era of inclusive sports development in The Gambia—one built on equality, empowerment, and the belief that every athlete deserves a platform to shine.