The 9th edition of the ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament was attended by wrestlers from 10 member countries from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and took place in Senegal’s capital of Dakar.
First launched in 2001 and unable to be held in 2020 due to the global pandemic, the 9th edition of the ECOWAS African wrestling tournament began with the official ceremonies. Following the opening ceremony attended by Senegal’s Sports Minister Matar Ba and ECOWAS Commission Social Affairs Officer Sigi Fatima Jagne, two days of information and training sessions were held with the participation of the Senegalese National Wrestling community, referees, and technical officials.
Organized to promote regional integration and development through sports and to promote African values and the development of regional sports through their promotion, the wrestling matches were the scene of colorful struggles.
Participating in the wrestling in Dakar within the framework of this agenda, World Ethnosport Confederation (WEC) Board Member Kemal Haydar Öztürk and World Ethnosport Confederation General Secretary Abdulhalim Aksu held talks with the Senegalese Ministry of Sports officials and ECOWAS representatives about WEC’s vision and activities. Emphasizing the importance of keeping African’s ancient traditional sportive and cultural values alive by popularizing them, the WEC Delegation pointed out how the World Ethnosport Confederation is seen to play an important role in having all the sports that have been forgotten or become less known around the world remembered again with the bridges of international friendship and cooperation.
The WEC Delegation emphasized that no youth should forget their own sports and culture and that engaging in these sports will help them raise more self-confident and conscious generations. Following the award ceremony presented at the end of the program, the WEC delegation thanked the Senegalese Ministry of Sports officials and ECOWAS representatives who hosted the event for their hospitality.
