| The Gambia at the 2021 Summer World University Games | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | GAM |
| in Chengdu, China 28 July 2023 – 8 August 2023 | |
| Competitors | 2 (1 man and 1 woman) |
| Medals |
|
| Summer World University Games appearances | |
The Gambia competed at the 2021 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China held from 28 July to 8 August 2023. [1]
| Sport | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athletics | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semi-finals | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Yankuba Jahateh | 1500 metres | 4:10.89 | 25 | — | Did not advance | ||
| 5000 metres | 16:39.79 | 23 | — | Did not advance | |||
| Athlete | Event | Heat | Semi-finals | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | ||
| Aisha Farage | 100 metres | 13.64 | 49 | Did not advance | |||
| 200 metres | Did not start | ||||||
The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal, except for its western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. It is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, which flows through the centre of the country and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The national namesake river demarcates the elongated shape of the country, which has an area of 11,300 square kilometres (4,400 sq mi) and a population of 2,468,569 people in 2024. The capital city is Banjul, which has the most extensive metropolitan area in the country; the second- and third-largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.
Banjul, officially the City of Banjul, is the capital and fourth largest city of The Gambia. It is the centre of the eponymous administrative division which is home to an estimated 400,000 residents, making it The Gambia's largest and most densely populated metropolitan area. Banjul is on St Mary's Island, where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean.
The Gambia Armed Forces, also known as the Armed Forces of The Gambia, consists of three branches: the Gambia National Army (GNA), the Gambia Navy, and the Republican National Guard (RNG). It formerly included the Gambia National Gendarmerie (GNG) from the 1980s to 1996, when they were moved under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The commander-in-chief is the president of the Gambia who is currently Adama Barrow, whereas practical control is exercised by the Chief of the Defence Staff who is currently Lieutenant General Yankuba Drammeh.
The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former President Dawda Jawara's tenure. It maintained close relations with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and other African countries. The July 1994 coup strained The Gambia's relationship with Western powers, particularly the United States. Starting in 1995, President Yahya Jammeh established diplomatic relations with several additional countries, including Libya, the Republic of China, and Cuba. As scholars on Gambia's foreign policy have argued, throughout Jammeh's period, the country's foreign policy was a shifting sand, with little of direction.
The Gambia national football team represents The Gambia in men's international football and is controlled by the Gambia Football Federation. Until 1965, the team and the country were known as British Gambia. The team has never qualified for the World Cup. In 2021, Gambia qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the first time in history. The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Catholic Church in the Gambia is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome. The Diocese of Banjul covers the whole of the country.
Christians in the Gambia constituted Muslim 96.4%, Christian 3.5%, other or none 0.1%.
The Gambia women's national football team represents the Gambia in international women's football. It is governed by the Gambia Football Federation. As of December 2019, it has only competed in one major international competition, the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations qualification. The Gambia has two youth teams, an under-17 side that has competed in FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup qualifiers, and an under-19 side that withdrew from regional qualifiers for an under-19 World Cup. The development of a national team faces challenges similar to those across Africa, although the national football association has four staff members focusing on women's football.
Modou Barrow is a Gambian professional footballer who plays for Sivasspor on loan from Al-Ahli and the Gambia national team. He is a winger but can also play as a forward.
Omar Colley is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and captains the Gambia national team.
Lamin Jallow is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Algerian club CR Belouizdad and the Gambia national team.
The ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia or the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia – initially code-named Operation Restore Democracy – is a military intervention in The Gambia by several member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
Ablie Jallow is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Metz, and the Gambia national team.
Musa Barrow is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al Taawoun and the Gambia national team.
Ebrima Colley is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Swiss Super League club Young Boys, on loan from Serie A club Atalanta, and the Gambia national team.
The COVID-19 pandemic in The Gambia was a part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The virus was confirmed to have reached The Gambia in March 2020.
Dembo Darboe is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Kazakhstan Premier League club Ordabasy, on loan from UAE Pro League club Al-Nasr, and the Gambia national team.
The 2022 Gambian coup attempt was a military coup d'état attempt which took place in The Gambia on 20 December 2022. Reportedly, some soldiers attempted to overthrow the government of President Adama Barrow. Four soldiers were arrested on suspicion of involvement. The Gambian military initially denied that any such coup attempt took place. It also went after three other alleged conspirators. The coup leader was later named as LCpl Sanna Fadera. The attempt was condemned by Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the main opposition party, the UDP.