Burundi has officially opened a tournament of EAC games to be held in the towns of Bujumbura, Gitega and Ngozi from 16 to 30 August 2018. Different authorities say it is a great opportunity to reinforce unity and integration within EAC country members.
Joseph Butore, the second deputy president, says this tournament is an opportunity to bring together citizens from EAC member states. “The sport event that starts today is an occasion to bring together citizens living in the member states of the EAC who have committed themselves to being one people for one destiny,” he says.
Only the Tanzanian delegation was present during the opening ceremonies of the tournament of the EAC games.
Mr. Butore says this tournament is also an occasion to rethink the sport’s role in the socio-economic development and promotion of human values. Sport is also way of strengthening partnership between member states, he adds.
As for Libérat Mpfumukeko, EAC Secretary General, he says this event will widen and deepen the EAC integration process. “It’s is an occasion to share cultural, social and linguistic heritage between EAC member states”.
Honorable Ali Kirunda Kivenjija, Chairman of the EAC Council of Ministers, says sport is needed as it helps people develop spiritual flexibility. “We must encourage sports to integrate the culture that there must be a winner and loser in any contest. If you lose, don’t say you were cheated,” he says adding that the loser should rather find out why s/he lost and make some improvement.
Mr Kirunda says sport is a way of preaching that a loser is not to be blamed and a way of making people concede defeat. “Losing is not the end of the world. We should therefore accept defeat,” he says.
While the tournament was due to begin this August 16, 2018, only the Tanzanian delegation and the host country (Burundi) were present during the opening ceremonies.
The member states of the East African Community are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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