Curtain falls on the inaugural EAC Games in Bujumbura
Burundi bagged the highest Medals while Tanzania trailed
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 30th August, 2018: The curtain fell on the inaugural East African Community (EAC) Games 2018 themed Fostering EAC Integration and Peace through Sports, which kicked off on 16th August 2018 in several play grounds within Bujumbura City and at the Gitega Stadium in Burundi, on Wednesday 29th August 2018.
At the end of the 14-day gruelling competition in 12 disciplines, the Republic of Burundi bagged the highest number of medals (10), followed by Uganda (9), then Kenya (8), and Tanzania trailed with (4). The Republics of Rwanda and South Sudan were expected but did not show up for the event. The 12 sporting disciplines were Football (women), Netball (women), Volley Ball (men), Volley Ball (women), Rugby 7s (men), Lawn Tennis (men), Lawn Tennis (w), Boxing (men), Boxing (women), Karate (men) Half Marathon (men), and Half Marathon (women).
Burundi won three (3) Gold medals in Lawn Tennis (w), Boxing (w), and Karate (m); six (6) Silver medals in Football (w), Volley Ball (m), Volley Ball (w), Rugby 7s (m), Lawn Tennis (m), and Boxing (m); and one (1) Bronze medal in Netball (w).
Uganda got five (5) Gold medals in Netball (w), Volley Ball (m), Volley Ball (w), Rugby 7s (m), and Boxing (m); two (2) Silver medals in Boxing (w) and Half Marathon (m); and two (2) Bronze medals in Lawn Tennis (m) and Lawn Tennis (w).
Kenya took home three (3) Gold medals in Lawn Tennis (m), Half Marathon (m), and Half Marathon (w); three (3) Silver medals in Lawn Tennis (w), Karate (M), and Half Marathon (w); and two (2) Bronze medals in Half Marathon (m) and Half Marathon (w).
The United Republic of Tanzania took home only three medals; one (1) Gold medal in Football (w), one (1) Silver medal in Netball (w), and one (1) Bronze medal in Karate (m).
Gracing the closing ceremony was the First Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, H.E. Gaston Sindimwo, who commended the East African Community Secretariat and the Partner States for organizing the Games geared towards enhancing the citizens’ support and popular participation in the integration agenda.
Addressing the same occasion, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said hosting and providing a lot of support to the 1st EAC Games in Bujumbura and Gitega was a true demonstration and commitment by the Republic of Burundi to the EAC integration agenda.
He said the 1st ever EAC Games had offered yet another opportunity to the sportsmen and women to have a regional platform to show case the rich and diverse sporting talents the East African region has to offer in the overall context of the integration process.
He noted that the succesful conclusion of the EAC Games was yet another demonstration of the long-standing and now rapidly growing fraternal relations and networking among the ordinary citizenry in the region. “The event affirms our resolve to work together to promote peace, harmony stability and unity in East Africa. This marks the beginning of holding regular EAC Games which demonstrates our resolve as East Africans to move the Integration towards greater levels in widening and deepening the cooperation in all fields of life of our peoples”, affirmed the EAC official.
Ambassador Jean Rigi, the Permanent Secretary who represented the Minister to the Office of the President Responsible for East African Community Affairs noted that the First Edition of the EAC Games had been very significant to many for years to come because it has made it possible for the youth around the Region to come together and acquaint themselves with the realities of the East African Community. “It has also developed a sense of bondage, which is critical for deepening and widening East African Community integration”.
He urged the participants to nurture the ambition and the desire to play better in the 2nd Edition of the Games, with a much deeper sense of integration.
Notes to Editors
EACoG is a Regional Sports initiative that emanates from the decision of the 20th EAC Council of Ministers, which directed the Secretariat to organize and hold Sports Tournaments on regular basis with partnership of private sector, civil society, voluntary organizations/ institutions/individuals and Development Partners
A summary of the Medals and Overall Ranking can be accessed from the EAC Games website: https://www.eac.int/eacog
-ENDS-
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 9001:2008 Certified