After Rwanda, another country in French-speaking Africa is determined to take its Olympic destiny into its own hands. The National Olympic Committee of Guinea Bissau (COGB), one of the new members of the AFCNO (French-speaking Association of National Olympic Committees), has put in place a strategic plan. It is the result of a long and methodical process, begun during 2013. A patient process which saw a serious boost at the beginning of June 2015.
At the initiative of COGB and its president, Sergio Mané, a restitution and validation seminar of the strategic plan was held in the capital, Bissau. An entire day of debates and exchanges marked by the presence, in addition to representatives of the sports movement, the State and the private sector, of several athletes including Augusto Midana, recent African wrestling champion.
At the heart of the discussions, a document of around thirty pages, the strategic plan, the technical coordination of which was entrusted to the company Jappo Sports Consulting, managed by the Senegalese Diamil Faye. The result of two years of work.
Guinea Bissau has just experienced a political change which, after several years of instability, tends to restore confidence in the country and its various institutions. The COGB wanted to take advantage of this climate of economic and political recovery, associated with the new situation of the international Olympic movement symbolized by Agenda 2020, to begin its modernization. Its strategic plan, the first of its kind in Guinea Bissau, aims to strengthen relations between COGB and the country's sports federations, to then lead to a tripartite partnership between the State and COGB and the private sector. It also aims to develop infrastructure, increase the number of national competitions, position athletes on the international scene and attract international events to Guinea Bissau.
Six strategic axes have been retained over the 2015-2018 period:
- Establish a structured and efficient administration
- Placing marketing and communication at the center of COGB development
- Build strong and profitable partnerships
- Making infrastructure the locomotive of sports development in the country
- Coordinate and support sports development
- Create sustainable national events and attract international events.
Sergio Mané, the president of COGB, makes no secret of it: the success of the project requires the support of all stakeholders. “The National Olympic Committee could not carry out this ambitious project alone,” he said. I therefore appeal to all national stakeholders – State, media, athletes, national federations, private partners – and international stakeholders such as Olympic Solidarity and ANOCA, to support this major initiative. With their help and support, this plan can bring us the desired results. »
Same story with Diamil Faye, the boss of Jappo Sports Consulting: “Guinea Bissau is full of talent and the gold medal that the country won at the African wrestling championships is an excellent illustration of this. The government and business partners we met were enthusiastic. It is now up to the COGB to structure itself and continue to make efforts to be in line with the rules of good governance. An essential step to gain the trust of donors and obtain the human and material resources to stimulate its athletes. » The train is underway. He looks good.
