….AFN announces CDS half marathon race
42 African countries are set to participate in the 2nd edition of African Military Games scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital in 2024, the Defence Headquarters (DQH) said.
Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Timothy Marquiz stated this on Tuesday, during a press conference to announce activities lined up for the Military Games by the Director of Sport, Defence Headquarters.
Air Vice Marshal Marquiz also announced the Chief of Defence Staff, CDS Half Marathon Race and the General Assembly of OSMA which will take place in November, 2023.
The African Military Games is an avenue where all African Military Athletes come together to interact with one another towards enhancing the good historical collaborative efforts and working relationships built, and enjoyed over the years.
According to the Director, out of the 42 countries which are expected to participate in the 2nd edition of African Military Games, Abuja 2024, 27 have already indicated interest to participate in all the sporting activities at the forthcoming games.
The African Military Games, according to Marquiz, is a “multi-sport event that was held just once, in 2002. The first-ever African Military Games, with the support of the Conseil Internationale du Sport Militaire, CISM were held in April 2002 in Nairobi, Kenya. Tunisia was asked to host the 2006 African Military Games, but it never took place.”
He also disclosed that the theme for the 2nd African Military Games Abuja 2024 is “Enhancing Military Cooperation in Africa Through Sports” and it’s scheduled to hold between the 6th to 15th November, 2024.
On the CDS Half Marathon race, the Director of Sport DHQ said the half marathon will cover 21.2 kilometres and the sporting event will take place November 25, 2023, and participants must be personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other Paramilitary agencies.
The President of the Organisation Military Sport in Africa (OSMA), who doubles as Vice President of CISM, Major General Maikano Abdullahi, in his address, said the 2nd African Military Games was approved by the CDS Armed Forces of Nigeria after OSMA gave the Games hosting right to Nigeria during the 7th OSMA General Assembly in Sierra Leone.
General Abdullahi added that the venue of the event: was MKO Abiola National Stadium and some sporting facilities in the Military Cantonment.
“The Grand Patron is the Commander in Chief of Armed Forces of Nigeria AFN, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Patron: Minister of Defence: His Excellency Mohammed Badaru Abubakar CON mni, Chief host: CDS Gen CG Musa while Co-host are Lt Gen TA Lagbaja – COAS, V Adm EI Ogalla – CNS, Air Marshal HB Abubakar – CAS.”
General Maikano also noted that the 2nd African Military Games Abuja 2024 will witness 19 sporting events like Football, Basketball, Tennis, badminton, Chess, Taekwondo and many more.
CISM was created while meeting Nice at a fencing event on 18 Feb 1948 by five Founding Nations (Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) OSMA was created in 1994 at the 49th CISM General Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey.
“OSMA was founded by Maj Gen Ishola Williams of Nigeria, Col Kalkaba Malboum of Cameroon Armed Forces, and Gen Poetim of Senegal. Nigeria in CISM: Nigeria joined CISM in 1972 (51 years) ago.
“Some past Chief Delegates include Lt Col BS Dimpka, Gen O Obasanjo, Gen TY Danjuma and Maj Gen T Shelpidi amongst others. 1st Africa Military Games Kenya 2002: 32 nations participated in 11 Events. The event was declared open by the then-President of Kenya President Daniel Arap Moi.
- FG moves to secure natural resources, as presidential committee meets service chiefs - January 25, 2024
- Kogi govt pays JAMB registration fees for 15,033 public school students - January 24, 2024
- Edo Guber: APC debunks aspirants screening disqualification rumours - January 24, 2024
