The South Sudan National Olympic Committee (SSNOC) advance team has arrived in Torit, the capital of Eastern Equatoria State, to prepare the groundwork for the 75th anniversary to mark the Olympic Day.
Martin Obonyo Hakim, the executive director of the SSNOC, heads the four-member advance team.
The day will be celebrated on 23 June and is expected to host thousands of school children, traditional dancers, several partners including Nile Petroleum, oil companies, UNMISS and other UN agencies, JICA, Universal Printing Company Ltd, Rak Media, and Dahabshil.
Among the government dignitaries expected in Torit are the vice president’s office, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the parliamentary sports committee, national ministries of information, education, and environment as will be hosted by the Eastern Equatoria State government
The committee’s statement said: “Sports can unite us through passion, teamwork, commitment, loss, and victory along with highlighting how people are united by qualities beyond borders despite the circumstances the country is going through.”
Speaking during the meeting with Eastern Equatoria State ministers of youth, education, information, and gender among other several stakeholders in Torit on Thursday, Martin Obonyo Hakim, the SSNOC executive director, said major events including football games and performances by artists will be held during the celebrations.
“In this tentative report, we have the planting of trees which goes with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In sports, you have to be constant with the environment. The minister of health is concerned because we have items there that indicate the cleaning of health centers. For the Ministry of Youth and Sports, you have the run and the Olympic Day run will have a marathon or athletics,” he said. “We will organize things on the 22 and the 23 June and depart on 24 June. The team which will participate will be coming from Juba and others may arrive on the 19 June.”
The Eastern Equatoria State minister of culture youth and sports called on the local population to own the Olympic Day.
“This celebration is not for one person or government, whether you are young or persons with disability, come and witness the day,” she said. “I am asking everyone to come in big numbers that day. This is our day as people of this state, so come see what the Olympics is like and make that day colorful.”
Meanwhile, the Eastern Equatoria State minister for gender child social welfare, Jennifer Nabongorika Edward, said the Olympic Day she witnessed in Wau was beautiful.
“We should follow because the earlier we plan, the better. We are remaining with one week and I request that we put all the arrangements in order because the Olympics is different from other sports,” she stated.
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