Para athletes and coaches hail Global GAPS Camp
Para athletes and coaches have praised the recently concluded Global GAPS Camp in Mauritius.
Para athletes and coaches from all six regions of the Commonwealth in the sport of Para Athletics joined together for an intense week of training, competition, and personal development hosted by Commonwealth Games Mauritius and supported by Stellenbosch University, UK Sport, and WADA Africa.
GAPS Athlete Kevin Powell from Jamaica, who competes in seated shot put, said, "I don't think I'll ever get an opportunity like this for however long so I'm really grateful for the connections I have made, the friendships I have made and the cultural exposure that I have been exposed to over these last few days and grateful for this opportunity.
“I've made some very good friends here at the camp, my roommates from Cameroon and Tanzania, big up yourselves, I love chilling with you guys, I've learnt so much from you. I've met so many beautiful friends from Ghana, from Nigeria, from Namibia, all these beautiful people. I’m just grateful for the potpourri of culture that we've found here."
GAPS Athlete Andulai Mattia from Sierra Leone, who competes in sprints, said, “This camp is not an ordinary camp, it is one of its kind. It is camp that promotes social inclusion, cultural diversity, because it brings athletes from different backgrounds and cultures and different societies. We interact, share ideas, and we look for how we can help others that are in need.
“With the knowledge I already have got from the camp, I do believe I have a responsibility to go back home and try to share this knowledge with others who don't have the opportunity to be here. And to achieve my dream to become the best Commonwealth athlete as we are waiting for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.”
GAPS (Gather, Adjust, Prepare, Sustain) is Commonwealth Sport’s Para sport, development and inclusion pathway programme, designed to provide Para athletes and coaches with access to skills, knowledge, and resources that aid their personal development and training as they prepare for competition, while driving hope and motivation and building pride and a strong sense of identity amongst the participants.
This camp is not an ordinary camp, it is one of its kind.
GAPS was originally developed by Commonwealth Sport and Griffith University and has since been expanded in Africa, Asia, Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe, through partnerships with Stellenbosch University, University of Birmingham, and the University of the West Indies.
WADA Africa, for the first time, supported the programme through the delivery of the anti-doping education session.
Commonwealth Sport Director of Development & CGA Relationships Ellen Barwise said, "Our time at the GAPS Para sport Camp has been nothing short of inspiring. The energy, passion, and dedication displayed by every participant and coach has been incredible. It’s amazing to see how sport can empower individuals, build confidence, and create lasting connections. We’re proud of the growth and progress made, and excited to continue supporting these athletes in their journey toward excellence."
GAPS Africa Lead Suzanne Ferreira said, “The GAPS Camp has been a powerful reminder of the limitless possibilities that sport can unlock. Through storytelling and shared experiences, we've witnessed athletes and coaches break barriers, redefine their limits, and inspire each other to dream bigger."
Jen Browning, UK Sport, Sport Advisor (International Relations), said, “We’re proud to continue to support the work of Commonwealth Sport and the GAPS programme to ensure that Para athletes across the Commonwealth have opportunities to reach their full potential on the world stage.
“It has been incredible to see the impact this programme has had over the years, and we’re excited to see what lies ahead for the next generation of athletes starting on that journey in Mauritius.”
The camp had a special focus on wheelchair racing to support the growth of the event across the Commonwealth. Fourteen athletes and coaches were supported by Canadian coach Geoff Harris and Mauritian coach Jean Maria Bhugeerathee.
Fifty-one Para athletes and coaches from 21 Commonwealth nations and territories came together from Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Canada, England, Ghana, Grenada, Jamaica, Jersey, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Tuvalu, Uganda and Zambia.
