Abuja 2003: Curtain draws on Games Tomorrow

Abuja, Nigeria, Oct 17 - GNA - The curtain will draw on the Eighth All Africa Games, which has been going on in the Nigeria Federal Capital of Abuja for the past two weeks, with a closing ceremony that could replay the pomp, pageantry and grandeur that characterised the opening ceremony.

Billed for the magnificent National Stadium, the occasion will be used to bid the large number of visitors to Nigeria a befitting farewell after a fortnight of competition, officiating, coverage and adventure in the centrally located capital of Africa's most populous nation.

The Games have been a melting pot of cultures. They offered a platform for fraternity among Africans of various tribes and races.

Apart from the competitions, 53 African countries, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, attended with an overflowing representation of 6,000 athletes, 1,200 officials, 1,500 journalists and 2000 dignitaries from across the continent and beyond. There were also 7,000 volunteers drafted from around Nigeria to help in one way or the other and there were, both internal and foreign tourists who relocated to Abuja as long as the Games lasted.

The final ceremony could be another opportunity for the two billion television audience, who enjoyed the Games from the comfort of their homes, to witness another show of the African zeal and determination to break from the shackles of domination and forge ahead in unity and oneness of purpose, as the opening ceremony depicted. After competing in 23 disciplines, hosts Nigeria are in the lead with 73 gold medals, 81 silver and 54 bronze while Egypt are in second place with 67 gold, 58 silver and 67 bronze and South Africa are third with 59 gold, 56 silver and 47 bronze medals.

Ghana is tenth on the medals' standings with four gold, four silver and four bronze medals and of course, a Games record set by Ignatius Gaisah in the men's long jump.

So far, Sierra Leone is at the rear of the medals table with a bronze medal, while 17 other countries are yet to win anything. But win or lose, the Games have been a big success for the African continent and particularly Nigeria, which has invested billions of naira to provided the state of the art facilities that would remain the biggest legacy of hosting the fiesta for Nigerians.

As hands oscillate on Saturday to signal separation and severance of links and relationships, each participant will begin to ponder over his or her contribution to the success of the Games.

Representations of national associations will begin to appreciate the Nigerian example in terms of the provision of facilities and preparations for the competition.

They should begin to think about how the African giant managed to them in most of the multi national companies and buoyant local businesses to support the Games by committing huge financial resources to facilitate the national dream.

Sports administrators must take a cue from Nigeria and get convinced that there is always a way when there is the will. Win or lose, Africans have a great deal to learn from the Nigerian will and Ghana in particular should realise that sports is now big business, which needs adequate investment to produce results.

Gone are the days when athletes won events through luck and or natural talents, which have not been groomed and nurtured scientifically to peak at the appropriate time.

The Eighth All Africa Games must enlighten and drive us to provide facilities, train technical personnel and prepare adequately by organising local and international trials to give out boys and girls the necessary exposure and experience for the big stage.

Let us return from Nigeria with a new attitude that will aid the accelerated development of our sports, as sports has become a way of life that generates millions of quid in foreign exchange and launders the national image.

Harare is four years away and the nation should have a place among the first five on the continent.
Bye, bye Abuja, see you in Harare in 2007.