Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Sports Journalists Association of The Gambia (SJAG) at the Olympic House, GNOC secretary general Abdoulie M. Jallow described journalists, especially sports journalists, as key partners of the Committee.

Jallow, who is also secretary general of the Gambia Basketball Association (GBA), said one of the GNOC's core mandates in the next quadrennial is to prepare a team for Tokyo 2020.

He stressed the importance of sports journalists following the progress of all athletes through their qualification journeys.

"We should not underestimate the importance of publishing the profiles of the athletes as it can motivate them to do better in each competition," Jallow said.

"This would also help the general public to understand how athletes end up being selected to represent The Gambia."

Jallow reaffirmed that the GNOC will continue to work with sports journalists and do its utmost to help in building the capacity of Gambian journalists.

"We have currently identified a course to be organised by Zone II ANOCA (Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa), which two journalists would attend," he told members of the SJAG.

"The course should have been held in Mali last month but was postponed to further notice.

"We will, however, continue to look for opportunities for your memberships during our term in office. 

"Even though resources are scarce, we will endeavour for our partnership to be mutually beneficial."

Jallow also informed the gathering that they are in the process of setting up GNOC Commissions, which are due to serve as important pillars and advisory bodies to the GNOC Board.

He added that the Media Commission is one of these pillars and that the GNOC will link with the SJAG to provide names of possible candidates to serve as members.

Jallow revealed that the role of the Commission is to collaborate with the GNOC in the production of effective reporting material for consumption by the sporting fraternity and the general public.

"They will be expected to device innovative ways of sports reporting in order to build athlete staff esteem especially women and girls," he said.

"The Commission will also help in the sensitisation of athletes and coaches about their attitudes towards their own training, winning and self-worth, to their team-mates and opponents. 

"They will also come up with sensitisation material for athletes and coaches with regards to anti-doping and fair play through the use of media images. 

"The Commission will conduct research and publicise the best practices of sports and athletes development and identify ways in which the NOC can help the media by identifying potential partnerships with international media institutions within the Olympic Movement."

The Gambia were represented by four athletes at the Rio 2016 Olympics, comprising of sprinters Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass, judoka Faye Njie and swimmer Pap Jonga.

The West African nation has never won an Olympic medal.