First Lady officially opens 10th FASU Games in Nairobi

The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, officially presided over the opening ceremony of the 10th edition of the FASU (Federation of African University Sports) Games that will be taking place at the Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya from 6-10 June 2022.

After a four year hiatus, partly enforced by the novel coronavirus pandemic, the continental varsity games made its comeback with over two thousand athletes drawn from upto 40 institutions of higher learning across fourteen countries gathering to take part in the games.

In the five day event that was supposed to take place in 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19, upto fourteen games including athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, table tennis, ennis, volleyball, handball, swimming, taekwondo and karate in both genders will be on offer.

"It is my great honor to join you for the 10th FASU Games in Kenya. We are proud to have hosted elite events in the country before and to add this to our portfolio. Sport is recognized for its great social impact and ability to build character and reenergizing the bonds that exist...It is my pleasure to declare the 10th Games of the University Games officially open," the First Lady remarked.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, who was not in attendance, also had her speech read at the opening ceremony.

"We are greatly honored as a country to host this prestigious event in the University sports calendar. I would like to congratulate the organizers of this event and the administration of Kenyatta University for the work that has gone into staging the games. I wish every participant all the best and look foward to celebrating the wins together with you," the CS's speech read in her absentia.

Kenyan Universities set to grace the championships include Jomo Kenyatta University Of Agriculture And Technology, Kisii University, Kabarak University, Kaimosi Friends University College Tiriki, Kibabii University and Kiriri Women's University Science And Technology.

Others are Meru University Of Science And Technology, Mount Kenya University, Strathmore University, Kaimosi Friends University College, Technical University Of Kenya and Technical University Of Mombasa.

Confirmed participating African Universities from the list include The American University Cairo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Lagos State University, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University-Zambia Lusaka, Makerere University, University of Johannesburg, University of Rwanda, University of Kwazulu Natal, University of Mauritius and the University of The Western Cape.