September 28, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Over 25 participants have on Tuesday September 27 kick-started a three -day International Swimming Federation (FINA) official’s clinic at the Siaka Steven Stadium presidential lounge in Freetown.
The three days training is aimed at improving officiating in swimming, developing andincreasing participation in the sport.
According to the president of Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association, Rev. George Spilsbury-Williams the training wouldbe an opportunity for them in continuing the association’s development stride.
As he thanked both the Sports Ministry and the National Olympic Committee for their supports and fatherly role towards the development of Swimming in the country, Rev. Spilsbury-Williams also appealed to the participants to take the course with all seriousness.
Minister of Sports, Ahmed Khanou laid emphasis on the importance of the clinic, adding that such capacity building was in line with the ministry’s goal to give sports a different face in the country.
“This is a major step by the Swimming association towards capacity building. Let me applaud FINA for such consideration,” the minister said and cautioned the participants: “You all should entreat this clinic with all seriousness because those days are gone when we just spent a week in such training with nothing to show for it.
“At the end you all should ask what have we done and gain from the training. In other countries, people are paying to undertake such training course because it is reliable and very instrumental towards sports development.”
The course expert who is also a member of the FINA technical swimming committee member, Olugbenga Lawal informed the participants that they will have to cover theory and practical during the training and final assessment method which includes examinations before certification.
He said: “The training will be very interactive and everyone will be encouraged to participate because it is not going to be a one way affair.
Sierra Leone became the latest FINA member nation to undertake such clinic after similar one was conducted in Kigali, Rwanda and Banjul, The Gambia in July this year.