Government has said hosting of the 10th African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games would provide a lot of the opportunities in the transport, tourism and business sectors for the next 14 days.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Richard Chimwendo Banda said this Thursday during the handover of the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games Torch to the Mayor of Lilongwe City as a host.
He said the games have brought over 2,000 athletes that would be participating in various sporting codes and this provides a lot of opportunities to several sectors within the City.
“I will like to urge City resident to take to opportunity to patronize various sporting venues to watch games for free,” Banda said.
He added that the handing over to the Torch to the Mayor symbolizes the commencement of the youth games ahead of official opening on Friday evening.
The Minister disclosed that two heads of State, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi and his Mozambican counterpart, Filipe Nyusi would grace the official opening ceremony at Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Area 48, Lilongwe.
“The official opening ceremony will be climaxed with a Confederation of Southern African Football Association (COSAFA) Under 17 football match between Malawi and Botswana which will be used as Confederation of African Football (CAF) youth qualifiers for 2023,” he said.
Mayor for Lilongwe City, Councillor, Richard Banda said the council was very gratitude to host the youth games for the first time.
He said hosting the games provides an opportunity to city residents to patronize the games in various sporting venues within the city.
“We have done a lot of improvements within the city in readiness for the games and city streets have been maintained in order to improve mobility challenges,” Banda said.
Malawi’s sports legends, Kinnah Phiri, Mary Waya and John Mwethiwa were among the sports legends that carried the Torch from Capital Hotel round about to Civic Offices and handed it to the Minister before giving it to the Mayor.
There was AUSC Region 5 Youth Games awareness march from Area 25 Nsungwi, through Mtandire, Ntchesi, Biwi Triangle to City Centre with Nyemba Boys and Malawi Army Brass Band providing the entertainment.
