The Gambia National Olympic Committee has financed overseas training camps for three of its Rio 2016 bound athletes ©GNOC

The Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) has financed overseas training camps for three of its Rio 2016 bound athletes.

Adama Jammeh and Gina Bass, who will both compete on the track in the 200 metres, were able to train in Italy before heading off to Brazil.

They were put through their paces at the Preparazione Olimpica in Formia, with compatriot Faye Alex Nije also benefiting.

Nije, a judoka in the under 73kg category, has been at a camp in northern Italy after a two week stay in French capital Paris.

He also competed at a preparation competition in Hungary before travelling to the Games, where he will become the first from The Gambia to participate on the Olympic stage in the sport.

All three athletes benefited thanks to scholarships offered by GNOC.

Adama Jammeh (left) was one of the Gambian athletes to benefit ©Getty Images
Adama Jammeh (left) was one of the Gambian athletes to benefit ©Getty Images

The African country is also set to send swimmer Pap Jonga to Rio, where he will compete in the men's 50 metres freestyle.

In February, The Gambia welcomed International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Beatrice Allen who visited Independence Stadium to inspect renovation work at the country's main multipurpose sports venue. 

Allen, who is also the vice-president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), played a key role in securing $160,000 (£110,000/€142,000) in funding from the IOC to help establish a modern athletics track for the country in Bakau. 

The Gambia has sent athletes to every Summer Olympic Games since Los Angeles 1984.

They are still awaiting their first medal.