2nd ECOWAS Games open in Accra Saturday

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The 2nd edition of the ECOWAS Under-23 Games is billed to open in Accra, Ghana, Saturday, with participants competing in five sports - athletics, handball, volleyball, African wrestling and boxing, which is making its debut at the biennial regional sporting competition.

The ECOWAS Commission said 11 of the 15 ECOWAS Member States have confirmed their participation at the games, which provide a good opportunity for West African sports men and women to test-run their preparations for the forthcoming London Olympics.

The competition also seeks to promote and enhance sports as a means of uniting and encouraging the youth in West Africa to progress through balanced development, in addition to
providing a forum for interaction among West African youths; strengthening sporting and economic ties among Member States and promoting a sense of belonging among participants.

Speaking in Accra on the eve of the opening, the Director of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre, Mr. Francis Chuks Njoaguani, described the level of preparations as impressive.

During a recent courtesy call by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Gender, Dr. Adrienne Diop, on Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Clement Kofi Humado, the two officials reaffirmed the commitment of the country and the ECOWAS Commission to ensure successful Games.

Nigeria hosted the inaugural edition of the regional Games in 2010 in the capital city of Abuja, with competitions in four sports - athletics, handball, volleyball and African wrestling.
-0- PANA SEG 15June2012