By Duncan Mackay

The Somali National Olympic Committee distributed equipment to local teams and athletes in Kismayo as part of its development programme ©NOCSOMA plan to regenerate sport in Kismayo, a city bedevilled by conflict and tragedy, has been launched by the Somali National Olympic Committee (NOCSOM). 


A large NOCSOM delegation led by secretary general Duran Ahmed Farah travelled to Kismayo in the provincial capital of Lower Jubba region, in the south of the country, to organise three development courses, including a community engagement programme. 

The region's only sports facility, Waamo Stadium, is also being reconstructed thanks to financial help from the British Government. 

Sports equipment was also distributed to five football teams and athletes in the area, with a series of events held at Waamo Stadium.
 
"On the behalf of Somali NOC and its affiliated federations I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of UK for spending thousands of dollars on the rehabilitation of Waabo Stadium" Duran said at a special ceremony to mark the end of the three-month programme. 

Kismayo was the site of numerous battles during Somalia's civil war and was captured by Islamist militants in 2006 and not recaptured until September 2012. 

The Juba Interim Administration was subsequently officially established and recognised in 2013, allowing the NOCSOM to begin running development programmes there. 

Somali National Olympic Committee secretary general Duran Ahmed Farah led the delegation to Kismayo, a city badly affected by the country's civil war ©NOCSOMSomali National Olympic Committee secretary general Duran Ahmed Farah led the delegation to Kismayo, a city badly affected by the country's civil war ©NOCSOM

"For the past 24 years divisions and hostilities were normal amongst Somali people, but we want to make changes through sport," said Duran. 

"So far we made some positive approaches in the initiative, but we want to continue and I am hopeful it will yield tangible outcome."

The development programme included a capacity building workshop organised for the region's administrators to help them gain knowledge in sports management, so that they will be able to manage their own activities in the future.

The three-day administration seminar was attened by 20 people, including eight women, and was conducted by Professor Mohamed Ahmed Tarabi, who is head of local administration workshop for he NOCSOM. 

"We want every single region in the country to have its own administration team to be able to organise and manage their own sporting activities," said Duran. 

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