{THE fifth East Africa Community Inter-Parliamentary Games tournament will kick off tomorrow in Arusha, Tanzania.
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The games which will be staged at the Sheikh Abeid Karume Stadium will start tomorrow and end on December 12. The games will feature National Assemblies of the East Africa Community Partner States as well as East Africa Legislative Assembly.
The organisers EALA, have expanded the sports disciplines to include athletics and tug -of-war, in a move that enhances inclusivity. All teams are expected to be represented in majority of the sports disciplines. Immediately after the opening ceremony, parliamentarians will take part in the 100meters, 400m, 800m and 1,500m race, dubbed as the “Parliamentary Marathon”.
In football, defending champions, Parliament of Uganda once again face last year’s losing finalists EALA and Burundi National Assembly in Pool ‘A’.
Parliament of Uganda became the first team last year to win the trophy three times since inception of the games.
In Pool ‘B’, Parliament of Rwanda, Parliament of Tanzania and Kenya National Assembly are expected to square it off in what is billed to be an entertaining but tough group.
In netball, Pool ‘A’ features EALA, Burundi National Assembly and Kenya National Assembly while, Pool B comprises of defending champions Parliament of Tanzania, Parliament of Rwanda and the Parliament of Uganda. Both the football and netball games commence on Sunday.
The chairman of the Joint Planning Committee, Bernard Mulengani, said the games are key especially in ensuring bonding of legislators and bringing out their competitive spirit.
“The games play a fundamental part in enabling EALA’s interaction with Members of the National Parliaments in the Partner States as envisaged in Article 49 (2a) of the Treaty for the Establishment of EAC,” Mulengani said.
“At the same time, such games enhance interaction with the citizenry of the Partner States and as a mode of sensitization and popularising the Integration process,” he added.
{{The Star}}
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