Help Gina & Athletes train for the 2021 Olympics
Donation protected
This gofundme was approved and endorsed by the Gambia's National Olympic Committee (GNOC) to ensure IOC guidelines are not violated to place Gina or any other Gambian athlete at risk of being disqualified. Gina Bass, an exceptionally talented track athlete is supportive of this campaign and funds will be used to support other Gambian athletes in training as well . Collectively, the (GNOC) committee is working with the creator of this GFM page to motivate and raise much-needed funding needed to subsidize Gambian athletes prior to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and training camps homebased.
Why is additional funding needed if IOC provides scholarships and funds?
Funding from IOC is limited with strict guidelines and considering that the GNOC solely depends on IOC for all its programs, there is a big gap in meeting athletes' demand. Unlike other countries whose athletes are supported by their Government through their respective National Olympic Committees, our athletes struggle a lot to compete with top athletes in the field of play due to limited funding.
The Tokyo 2020 scholarship provides funds for qualifying athletes, why are more funds needed?
We have five (5) athletes under Tokyo 2020 scholarship who are training at the Dakar high-performance center. Each athlete is allocated USD 1,000 towards their training, and out of this amount, athletes receive only USD 150 monthly, the rest is paid to directly cover their accommodation, feeding, medical, and other logistics. Their fellow athletes from other countries whose performance is far below Gambia's current performance statistics and other high performers from high-income countries receive around an extra $1000 as pocket money, monthly. Naturally, Gambian athletes need more monetary subsidies beyond the base scholarship allocations.
Why isn't the Gambian government stepping in to subsidize?
A maximum of six (6) athletes' tickets to Tokyo, with the expectation that costs relating to National athletes to the Olympics are covered for qualified athletes through limited scholarships. Due to current economic constraints, the government is unable to cover the high costs needed by athletics in its entirety. Currently, the ticket cost to Tokyo is around D175,000 ($3,500). The NOC would have to source ways to support other athletes participation if they go beyond the maximum qualified athletes supported by IOC.
What are the funds going to be used for?
Gina's outstanding performance prompted the organizer of the GFM to raise funds to subsidize in different areas from stipend allocation to other training needs. Gina Bass has broken track records and has placed the Gambia on the map as a high competitor at a global level. At the recent Spanish 100m track competition, she placed 1st (11.27 seconds ). Her accomplishments and dedication are admirable and she is a symbol to upcoming athletes in The Gambia of how far we can go. Most importantly, she stated that she would like to allocate a percentage of the funds raised for the purchase of high-quality gear for young upcoming athletes in need. Unfortunately, many struggle with purchasing expensive athletic gear like running shoes.
What is our goal?
Collectively, our goal is to increase morale among Gambian athletes not only through funding but by shining a spotlight on their accomplishments. Most importantly, as citizens, it is our duty to fill in the gaps with the government and give back to our nation.
If we do not hit our $15,000 goal, funds collected will be utilized to purchase much-needed gear and donate the rest of the funds to the Gambian athletes training in Dakar.
*All funds collected will be allocated transparently and monitored by the (GNOC) committee*
Who is Gina Bass?
Born on 5 May 1995 in Toubacouta, a subdivision in the Region of Fatick in Senegal, Gina Bass grew up in The Gambia with a sister and two brothers. Coming from a very low-income earning village family, acquiring an education was quite a difficult journey. However, fortunately for her the teachers she came across during the latter part of her primary school education were quick to notice her potential and immediate took interest in her, nurtured her through primary school, then recommended her to a Junior Secondary School.
It was at Junior Secondary School that she was identified by the Gambia Athletics Association and selected to the Associations Athletes’ Development Programme where her potential as a true sprinter unfolded. She went on to be selected to the Junior National Team.
Gina went on to represent her country in various competitions Regional, Continental, World Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
In May of 2015, Gina through the Gambia National Olympic Committee, was amongst the 5 Gambian Athletes to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme for RIO2016; She gained acceptance into the IAAF High Performance Training Centre-HPTC in Dakar. Prior to this though she was on an Interim Scholarship at the same HPTC.
Since then, Gina has made several breakthroughs in the IAAF World Athletics Indoor Games in Europe. Now 26, Gina is an Olympian whose first appearance at an Olympic Games was in RIO2016 continues to make several landmarks for The Gambia in the international scene. Though her most celebrated success came in 2019 at age 24 when she won the 200M race at the 13th All Africa Games held in Morocco and was dubbed the “fastest woman in Africa” in the 200M race category. The performance and progress of Gina continues to be admired and celebrated not globally.
The reigning All-African Games 200M Champion, currently holds the Gambian National Records in the both the 100M and 200M respectively.
For Gina Bass, her ambitions remain high-to broke the world record in the 200M; and to further her education. Gina’s goal is to become part of Olympic history by joining the list of victorious Olympians at TOKYO 2020 and subsequent Games where she longs to hear her country’s National Anthem sung and see her country’s flag raised.
Why is additional funding needed if IOC provides scholarships and funds?
Funding from IOC is limited with strict guidelines and considering that the GNOC solely depends on IOC for all its programs, there is a big gap in meeting athletes' demand. Unlike other countries whose athletes are supported by their Government through their respective National Olympic Committees, our athletes struggle a lot to compete with top athletes in the field of play due to limited funding.
The Tokyo 2020 scholarship provides funds for qualifying athletes, why are more funds needed?
We have five (5) athletes under Tokyo 2020 scholarship who are training at the Dakar high-performance center. Each athlete is allocated USD 1,000 towards their training, and out of this amount, athletes receive only USD 150 monthly, the rest is paid to directly cover their accommodation, feeding, medical, and other logistics. Their fellow athletes from other countries whose performance is far below Gambia's current performance statistics and other high performers from high-income countries receive around an extra $1000 as pocket money, monthly. Naturally, Gambian athletes need more monetary subsidies beyond the base scholarship allocations.
Why isn't the Gambian government stepping in to subsidize?
A maximum of six (6) athletes' tickets to Tokyo, with the expectation that costs relating to National athletes to the Olympics are covered for qualified athletes through limited scholarships. Due to current economic constraints, the government is unable to cover the high costs needed by athletics in its entirety. Currently, the ticket cost to Tokyo is around D175,000 ($3,500). The NOC would have to source ways to support other athletes participation if they go beyond the maximum qualified athletes supported by IOC.
What are the funds going to be used for?
Gina's outstanding performance prompted the organizer of the GFM to raise funds to subsidize in different areas from stipend allocation to other training needs. Gina Bass has broken track records and has placed the Gambia on the map as a high competitor at a global level. At the recent Spanish 100m track competition, she placed 1st (11.27 seconds ). Her accomplishments and dedication are admirable and she is a symbol to upcoming athletes in The Gambia of how far we can go. Most importantly, she stated that she would like to allocate a percentage of the funds raised for the purchase of high-quality gear for young upcoming athletes in need. Unfortunately, many struggle with purchasing expensive athletic gear like running shoes.
What is our goal?
Collectively, our goal is to increase morale among Gambian athletes not only through funding but by shining a spotlight on their accomplishments. Most importantly, as citizens, it is our duty to fill in the gaps with the government and give back to our nation.
If we do not hit our $15,000 goal, funds collected will be utilized to purchase much-needed gear and donate the rest of the funds to the Gambian athletes training in Dakar.
*All funds collected will be allocated transparently and monitored by the (GNOC) committee*
Who is Gina Bass?
Born on 5 May 1995 in Toubacouta, a subdivision in the Region of Fatick in Senegal, Gina Bass grew up in The Gambia with a sister and two brothers. Coming from a very low-income earning village family, acquiring an education was quite a difficult journey. However, fortunately for her the teachers she came across during the latter part of her primary school education were quick to notice her potential and immediate took interest in her, nurtured her through primary school, then recommended her to a Junior Secondary School.
It was at Junior Secondary School that she was identified by the Gambia Athletics Association and selected to the Associations Athletes’ Development Programme where her potential as a true sprinter unfolded. She went on to be selected to the Junior National Team.
Gina went on to represent her country in various competitions Regional, Continental, World Championships and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
In May of 2015, Gina through the Gambia National Olympic Committee, was amongst the 5 Gambian Athletes to benefit from the Olympic Solidarity Scholarship Programme for RIO2016; She gained acceptance into the IAAF High Performance Training Centre-HPTC in Dakar. Prior to this though she was on an Interim Scholarship at the same HPTC.
Since then, Gina has made several breakthroughs in the IAAF World Athletics Indoor Games in Europe. Now 26, Gina is an Olympian whose first appearance at an Olympic Games was in RIO2016 continues to make several landmarks for The Gambia in the international scene. Though her most celebrated success came in 2019 at age 24 when she won the 200M race at the 13th All Africa Games held in Morocco and was dubbed the “fastest woman in Africa” in the 200M race category. The performance and progress of Gina continues to be admired and celebrated not globally.
The reigning All-African Games 200M Champion, currently holds the Gambian National Records in the both the 100M and 200M respectively.
For Gina Bass, her ambitions remain high-to broke the world record in the 200M; and to further her education. Gina’s goal is to become part of Olympic history by joining the list of victorious Olympians at TOKYO 2020 and subsequent Games where she longs to hear her country’s National Anthem sung and see her country’s flag raised.
Organizer
Ngaima Sesay
Organizer
Franklin Township, NJ
