2nd ECOWAS U-23 Games rescheduled

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The Second ECOWAS Under-23 Games, earlier fixed for 2-8 June in Accra, Ghana, have been rescheduled for 16-22 June, the ECOWAS Commission said in press statement here, received by PANA Wednesday, citing logistics reasons.

The new dates were agreed 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, here.

According to the statement, Humado had expressed Ghana’s appreciation to ECOWAS for accepting the new dates and acknowledged the country’s commitment to a successful hosting of the biennial sporting competition in athletics, handball, volleyball, traditional wrestling and boxing, which will be featuring for the first time.

On her part, Dr. Diop expressed confidence on Ghana’s ability to host the Games, noting that this would contribute to the attainment of regional integration objectives.

She assured the minister of ECOWAS’ readiness to assist Ghana host a successful Games.

The Commissioner’s visit took place during a three-day meeting of the Games’ Monitoring and Supervisory Committee which began on 3 May.

The Committee comprises, among others, the presidents of the West African Federations of the five sports featuring in the Games, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission and the Ouagadougou-based ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre which is coordinating the Games on behalf of the Commission.

Nigeria hosted the inaugural edition of the Games in 2010 with competitions in four sports - athletics, handball, volleyball and traditional wrestling.

This year’s Games will serve as a good platform for West African sportsmen and women to prepare for the 2012 London Olympic Games.
-0- PANA PR/VAO 9May2012