The Principal Secretary of the State Department for East African Community, Abdi Dubat, has hailed the role of sporting activities in strengthening the resolve of the East African States to move towards the realisation of the regional integration agenda.
The PS said sports highlights pertinent regional issues, including challenges and opportunities available in the region.
Dubat said regional sporting events serve to promote economic activities such as sports tourism, trade and e-commerce, thus stimulating local economies.
The PS made the remarks during the reception of the 7th Great Africa Cycling Safari (GACS), Kenyan stage, which was presided over by the Ministry of East African Community, ASALs, and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary, Beatrice Askul at the ministry’s headquarters in Nairobi.
The Cycling Safari event will be used to promote food security, peace and climate mitigation and has attracted six countries including Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. Somali and South Sudan did not send representatives.
The GACS, a 55-day, 6,000-kilometre annual cycling activity, started in Bujumbura, Burundi on August 1, with 40 cyclists and arrived in Kenya on August 17 through the Namanga border point in Kajiado County.
The cyclists are expected to cross over to Uganda today via the Suam border point in Trans Nzoia County after covering 1002km in 12 days.
PS Abdi described the event as a platform for sports development such as in talent identification, skills enhancement and the cultivation of a culture of sporting excellence in the region.
He challenged the youth to be on the front-line in nurturing sports to the professional level to enable them to earn a living besides elevating the East Africa region on the global map.
“The event also plays a crucial role in youth education, offering young people exposure to professional cycling and inspiring them to pursue careers in sports. It imparts practical lessons in teamwork, perseverance and cross-cultural understanding,” said Abdi.
The PS noted that the Cycling Safari event catalyzes sports development, fostering the growth of cycling as a sport in the region.
