Burundi will host the first edition of the sports tournament of the EAC games from 16 to 30 August 2018. The Minister of Culture and Sports says the tournament intends to reinforce peace and unity within the community.
Pélate Niyonkuru: “This tournament is an opportunity for young people from country members to talk about EAC integration”
Pélate Niyonkuru, Minister of Culture and Sports, says sport is one of the ways of promoting unity and sharing culture within the six country members of the East African Community. “Nobody ignores that sports play a key role in safeguarding peace and unity. This tournament aims to create a space for sharing sports values that the populations of the country members of the EAC have in common,” she says.
Minister Niyonkuru says this tournament is a chance for young people from country members to talk about EAC integration. “It is an opportunity for youths from EAC partner states to show their talent and talk about the challenges and opportunities of EAC integration in a convivial atmosphere.”
She calls on Burundians to warmly welcome visitors from the EAC and get involved in the tournament. “Entrance is free in different stadiums where the tournament will take place. I appeal to the population to go and support this regional activity. Sports federations also must be involved in this event,” she says.
This competition will take place in three main towns of Burundi namely Bujumbura, Gitega and Ngozi. The areas of competition are half marathon, football, handball, basketball, net ball, volleyball, table tennis and tennis court, rugby, judo, karate, boxing and Taekwondo with 388 players per country. Overall, there will be 2328 players.
The theme for this first edition is “promoting the integration and peace within the East African Community through sports”.
IWACU Open Data
