'2nd ECOWAS Games to feature 5 sports'

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - Five sports will feature in the 2nd edition of the ECOWAS Games, to be held in Ghana in June, according to the Director ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, Mr Francis Njoaguani.

The sports are Athletics, Boxing, Handball, Volleyball and African Traditional wrestling.

Explaining the rationale for the Games, the first edition of which was held in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city, in 2010 Njoaguani said: ''Sports, as a popular movement with its potential at fostering unity, are being exploited to fast-forward the sub-regional integration.''

Commenting on the 2nd ECOWAS Cycling Tour which rounded off in Abidjan on Sunday, the Director described it as a success and expressed the hope that all the 15 member states will participate in the next edition.

He said the cycling tour, which started in Lagos and crossed five countries to finish in Cote d'Ivoire, was a demonstration of the free movement across the West African region.

''We have been able to bring in people together, athletes, and officials from 14 member states to work towards a single objective, a goal, in the interest of the community and in the interest of development of sports across within the region,'' he said.

Only Cape Verde was missing from the just concluded edition of the cycling tour, which was won by Burkinabe Rasmane Quadraogo.
-0- PANA TN/SEG 20Feb2012