Military athletes from at least 54 African countries are expected to converge on Abuja in November to compete for laurels at the second edition of the Africa Military Games to be hosted in Nigeria.
The Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, AVM Abidemi Marquis, made this known on Friday while briefing newsmen on the forthcoming event.
Marquis said that military athletes from Mail, Niger, Burkina Faso and Guinea had also indicated interests to participate in the tournament billed to hold between Nov. 5 and Nov. 18.
He said the event with the theme “Enhancing Military Cooperation in Africa through Sport” would afford African countries opportunity to interact towards sustaining good relationship built over the years.
He said the event will feature both male and female athletes participating in 19 sporting events.
Marquis said that President Bola Tinubu is the grand patron for the game, while the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, would be the patron.
According to him, the chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa will serve as the Chief host while the service chiefs will serve as co-hosts.
He said the sporting event was aimed to further cement the existing camaraderie and cooperation among African militaries as well as enhancing the security in the continent.
According to him, about 43 nations have already submitted their first primary agreement to participate in the games.
“The games are Badminton, boxing, basketball, combat swimming, football, golf, judo, kickboxing, obstacle crossing, shooting, Squash, table tennis, lawn tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and wrestling etc.
“So for Nigeria, while hosting these games is going to attract tourists to our country and it will project Nigeria to the world.
“Nigeria will be visible and when tourists come to your country, they are coming to spend money on accommodation, food, transportation, souvenirs and other goods and services.
“So hosting these games is a positive force multiplier with respect to economic growth,” he said.
The President, Organisation of Military Sports in Africa (OSMA), Maj.-Gen. Abdullahi Maikano, said the organisation had striven to unite all African military through sporting activities.
Maikano said that Nigeria was granted the hosting right after 24 years due to its capability, expressing confidence that the event would be a success.
He reiterated that the Ambassador of Burkina Faso has also assured that the military athletes will be participating in the event.
“We are expecting nothing but to have the best and we believed Nigeria has the capacity.
“Nigeria has all it takes to host and it has been hosting other events but this is a unique event because it involves the armed forces of Africa.
“Some of our friends from Russia, Germany, United States of America will also come,’’ he said.
“Our aim is to have the 54 member nation of Africa and the motto is peace in Africa and Nigeria is going to give us that way and fair ways to get peace in Africa,’’ he said.
Maikano said that the Sudanese military had indicated interest to participate in spite of the crisis in the country, adding that campaign was on for more countries to participate. (NAN)
