Ivory Coast named hosts of 2014 ECOWAS Games
Lekan Sowande, Accra, Ghana.

Ivory Coast has been named as host of the next edition of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Games, scheduled for 2014.

The Ivorians will host the third edition of the biennial games that seek to promote unity and friendship among participating countries.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2012 edition of the Games at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, Dr. Adreinne Diop, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Gender said Ivory Coast got the mandate to stage the biennial event which is gradually becoming a regular fixture on the African sports calendar.

Ivory Coast will also become the first francophone country to stage the competition after Nigeria organized the maiden edition in 2010.

She commended the Government of Ghana for their support towards hosting the best edition of the biennial games so far.

The highlight was the presentation of prizes to deserving athletes and teams that participated in disciplines such as Athletics, Boxing, Handball, Volleyball and Traditional Wrestling.

At the end of the one week sporting events, Ghana staged a last minute fight to overhaul rivals, Nigeria, from the summit of the medal table after the latter led throughout the last six days.

The host racked in five gold medals in boxing at the finals held at the Accra Sports Stadium to push up the ladder.

Ghana won 17 Gold, 11 Silver, and 9 Bronze medals to beat Nigeria to second position with 13 Gold, 16 Silver and 6 Bronze medals.

Senegal came a distance third position with 4 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
Eleven countries from ECOWAS region participated in five sporting events during the Games.

Ugo