South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
Participants from Lakes State showcase their talent during the launch of eight National Unity Days at Buluk playground in Juba on Sunday [Photo: Awan Achiek]
By Awan Achiek
The annual National Unity Day Sport competition opened on Sunday in Juba with the aim of uniting South Sudanese for peace and reconciliation after years of devastating conflict since December 2013.
The weeklong-event will see young people from ten states and three administrative areas take part in various sporting activities such as football, volleyball and cultural dance.
The event at Buluk playground is being held under the theme “Sports for Peace and Social Cohesion”.
Dr. Joseph Geng Akech, the Minister of Youth and Sports said the tournament provides a platform for young people to build-long friendships that promote peace across the country.
“Sport is a great way to be active as young people but also to have fun and to make friends and it teaches us to be united,” Geng said during the launching ceremony in Juba.
He appreciated the partners for their continuous and unwavering support to the 8th edition of the National Unity Day.
“We interact with different people and this tournament in particular highlights the very important vision of our President.”
Mr. Tanaka Hiroyuki, Chief Representative of Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) said that sports bring people together and provide people with opportunities to participate in social space.
“Let us continue to support these young athletes to achieve their dreams in sports and encourage more girls to participate in sports for equal representation in the areas of sports and more,” said Tanaka.
For his part, Titus Osundia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in South Sudan said that the tournament has the potential to spread peace and harmony among young people across the country.
“If National Unity Day is held continuously, it will create a tournament that young people and athletes can aspire to, and it will create an awareness that peace is necessary to continue sports and that we must promote harmony on our own,” Osundia said.
Since 2016, the celebration of National Unity Day has been taking place in Juba.
The main objective of the NUD is to promote interaction of diverse populations through sports, the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship.
