The Somali National Olympic committee has over the weekend held a day-long meeting in UK under the chairmanship of senior NOC vice president during which participants discussed on how to develop sports in the war-devastated country and the role of Somali expatriates across the globe.

According to Somali National Olympic Committee first vice president and head of international relations Duran Ahmed Farah who headed the meeting on behalf of the Somali NOC, the one-day meeting was held in London on Sunday 11^th of September and very positive ideas and consultations were exchanged during the meeting which was the biggest ever meeting by Somali NOC and its member federations outside the country.

In his opening address Somali National Olympic Committee first vice president and head of international relations Duran Ahmed Farah delivered a full report on the NOC’s past activities, its strategic plan for the next four years, the challenges that Somali NOC faced in the past and how it could be over come

“Despite so many difficulties we have met in the past, the Somali NOC had achieved more and we want to have Somali sports very progressed in the near future—we are very grateful to the Somali expatriates for their past assistance and we need them to play a bigger role” the Somali NOC first vice president and head of international relations Duran Ahmed Farah told the meeting over the weekend.

Delegates from some NOC member federations who addressed the meeting also outlined how they think that Somali sports can reach a higher development after more than two decades of major obstacles in the country including civil wars, Islamist ban on sports promotion and instability.

“On behalf of Somali National Olympic committee I am sending particular thanks to the Somali community associations in Western countries for their commitment to promote and develop Somali sports and culture—they are doing a very positive job and the history will mention such very important initiative” the NOC senior vice president Duran Ahmed Farah told the meeting.

The Associations represented in the meeting including: Somali Federation Sports, the Somali Week, Somali Sports Association UK, the Eurosom sports and culture association, SSIFO, Horn of Africa Youth in the Puntland region and the Somali Sports Culture Education & Development Organization had jointly suggested that cooperative relations between Somali NOC, its member federations and the Somali community Associations in the West be developed.

The high level meeting also attracted some revered Somali sports veterans including former coaches and former national team members who gave very important consultations and ideas.

Finally the meeting adopted some suggestions including:

Ø      To continue the holding of such consultative meetings on Somali sports

Ø      To strengthen the cooperation between all sides involved in Somali sports.

Ø      To open the door for all who are interested in developing Somali sports.

Ø      To be involved in joint preparations for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Ø      To increase awareness in sports.

Ø      To stop using media propagandas against the development of Somali sports.

Participants of the Somali NOC Meeting in London include:

1. Duran Ahmed Farah: Somali NOC senior vice president
2. Mohamed Hajji: Somali basketball federation vice president
3. Shiine Guhaad: coach
4. Bashiir Gurey: coach.
5. Moalim Hajji: coach.
6. Muridi Nor Sein: Somali Sports Press Association vice president
7. Mohamed Musse: Somali NOC Zone 4 representative.
8. Bashir Elmi Mohamed: Somali FA technical representative in Sweden
9. Mohamed Shidane: Somali Sports Association UK  Chairman

10. Abdullahi Abshir Ali: coach

11. Mohamed Abdullahi Ali: Somali handball federation vice president

12. Nor Maye Osman: Somali handball federation secretary General

13. Rabii Abdirahman Musse: Somali FA technical representative in UK

14. Ahmed Dayib Nor: Somali NOC Sports development coordinator & advisor

15. Hassan Mahmoud Hassan: coach 

16. Abdullahi Mohamed Saneey: Somali Athletics federation vice president.

17. Maryan Shirwa: Somali Women’s sports association.

18. Abdirashid Islaw Ahmed: Somali FA technical representative in UK

19. Engineer Abdullahi Hajji Ereg: coach.

20. Zakariye Mohamed Baliile: coach.

21. Daa’uud Shire Mohamed: coach

22. Axmed Bile: coach

23. Maxamuud Xasan: Somali Sports Press Association EC Member

24. Abdi Olad: coach  

25. Mohamed Shariif: coach  Somali week

By Shafi’i Mohyaddin Abokar

Somali NOC Media Officer

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