The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has welcomed the decision to host the 2013 Unity Games in Kumasi.
A powerful delegation to the Manhyia Royal Palace was led by the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah ; the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mayor Kojo Bonsu and the acting Director General of the National Sports Authority, Mrs Alice Atipoe.
The visit by the Sports Minister and his team was to officially inform the Ashanti King of the decision to stage Ghana’s biggest national youth sports festival in the Ashanti region, secure his endorsement and seek his blessings.
This year’s National Unity Games is scheduled to take place in Kumasi from Sunday, 11th to Sunday 18th August, 2013.
A total of eleven sporting disciplines will be the attraction at the Games. The selected disciplines are: Boxing, Athletics, Table Tennis, Badminton, Basketball, Handball, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Karate-Do, Swimming and Disabled Sports.
In addition, traditional Wrestling and Weightlifting will also be on stage as demonstration sports.
Addressing the delegation, elders and media at the Manhyia Royal Palace , the Otumfuo was emphatic about the timeliness of this year’s Unity Games. ”It is no secret that Ghana is currently going through tough times but there is the need to unite and overcome these challenges as a nation especially as far as our youth are concerned”
The King fondly recalled his school days when students from all over Ghana would meet and compete in a spirit of friendship, unity and love.
“The Unity Games is not about winning because the spirit of the competition is far bigger than that. Indeed, meeting people from other parts of the country and engaging with them on and off the competition field was one of the best experiences athletes could share”, he said.
The Asantehene thanked the Sports Minister for choosing Kumasi as the venue for the Games and was very confident that the Games would unearth talents as well as foster unity among the athletes, officials and spectators.
In his response, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah thanked Otumfuo for his warm reception and added that plans were far advanced for the hosting and successful organization of the Games in Kumasi.
He indicated that the Games was aimed at fostering peace and unity among the Ghanaian youth and also to unearth talents to represent Ghana in international competitions like the Commonwealth Games in Scotland next year followed by the Olympic Games in 2016.
The Minister also thanked the Mayor of Kumasi for his support and assurances that the 2013 Unity Games would be one of the most colorful ever staged in line with the mandate of promoting and developing sports in Ghana.
Source: MOYS P.R.DEPARTMENT