By Liam Morgan

Members gather at the General Assembly of the Somali National Olympic Committee in Mogadishu ©NOCSOMSomali National Olympic Committee (NOCSOM) President Abdullahi Ahmed Tarabi has praised the togetherness of the organisation in what has been a tough year for the country at their General Assembly in Mogadishu.

The nation has been ravaged by an ongoing civil war but Tarabi hailed the unity of all those involved with the Committee, while also reminding them of how it can improve the level of sports participation for Somali children and youth.

"We are extremely happy and pleased for your collaboration and the resilience that you have shown during the past year," he said, addressing the various members of the Parliament, the country's sports federations and associations, regional representatives, media and other invited guests in attendance.

"We are facing tremendous challenges together to develop and widen sport activities in a country that is recovering from a prolonged civil war.

"[We] would like you to double your efforts of working closely and effectively together which I believe is the only way that we can achieve our goals of lifting this nation again."

During the Assembly, changes to the symbol of the National Olympic Committee were shown,  the first time the logo has been modified since the body's inception 50 years ago.

The topic was hotly anticipated among those in attendance, which also included the deputy Mayor of Mogadishu.

Several presentations were made at the Assembly discussing topics including how they can promote the Olympic Movement across the nation ©NOCSOMSeveral presentations were made at the Assembly discussing topics including how they can promote the Olympic Movement across the nation ©NOCSOM



NOCSOM secretary general Duran Farah began the Assembly with a presentation detailing the organisation's accomplishments from the past two years at both national and international level.

Presentations summarising activities for the most effective federations were divulged to the Assembly, and these were then followed by discussions on how they can more effectively promote the Olympic Movement within their respective regions.

The NOCSOM also gave the team of the year award to Somali Army's team 'Horseed', which was presented by the body's honorary President Abdulkadir Ibrahim Ga'al "Abkow".

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