Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan will host the East African inter-parliamentary games in Juba this year after the regional lawmakers chose the youngest nation as the venue.
Gai Mayen Luk, Chairperson of the Specialised Committee for Youth and Sports, told The City Review that the game will be to ensure that legislators bond.
In the EAC, there are seven member countries whose lawmakers are expected to interact with one another during their Juba visit. Part of the interaction is inter-parliamentary diplomacy, where member states hold such games on an annual basis so that MPs can connect, meet, and interact in order to broaden and deepen regional integration.
The games take place at the end of each year, and the hosting is rotated. Last year, they were held in Arusha, Tanzania, and South Sudan’s parliament participated for the first time.
“We should have participated in our way before that,” Gai explained. “But the situation in our country at that time made it impossible for us to participate.” We were even slated to hold the games in Juba in 2018, but it was suspended due to the turmoil at the time. “
Decision made
‘‘Following the conclusion of the games in Arusha last year, it was decided that South Sudan would host the games for the first time in 2022, and the ball has now been thrown in our direction, and we are preparing,’’ said the MP.
The games are divided into eight sporting disciplines. Football, netball, volleyball, tug of war, basketball, golf, athletics, and darts are available for MPs who are physically disadvantaged to engage in the sports.
Mr. Gai stated that South Sudan has a lot of sporting facilities to enable the country to host those games, including the Juba football stadium, which is still under construction, as well as other sports, except golf.
“Juba stadium is there, it is incomplete, but it can be completed before that time comes.” All other activities can also be conducted here. The only activity we may not be able to conduct here is golf because we don’t have a golf course here.’’
“Golf is not an game to many people. It is a game of a few people, so we can host it in one of the neighbouring countries. We can hire a golf course in Uganda or Kenya for those who are playing golf to go and play there.”
Gai explained that citizens in neighbouring countries still have the misconception that South Sudan is a war-torn country and that having MPs from those countries participate in the eight inter-parliamentary games here would allow them to interact with South Sudanese and get first-hand information about the country, which they could compare to what they hear elsewhere.
“We look forward to welcoming MPs from member states at the end of this year and making them see what South Sudan is at the moment because we still don’t have much exposure out there as a country.”
South Sudan only competed in football and volleyball in last year’s games due to a delay in parliament’s reconstitution, according to Gai, and their participation was merely symbolic in order to host the games this year, which is a must.
He expressed optimism that South Sudanese MPs would win these sports, despite the fact that the games are not for competition, because South Sudan, he said, has the largest number of young parliamentarians in the region who are fit for the games.
He stated that a number of MPs have already joined the parliamentary sports club and are undergoing fitness training in preparation for the games.
According to him, about 2,000 to 3,000 MPs from EAC member states will travel to South Sudan to participate in inter-parliamentary games. Gai stated that the South Sudanese government will prepare sports facilities for the games as well as provide security to guests, but that the MPs will be in charge of other matters such as hotel accommodations.
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