Swazi Observer

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E1 MILLION BUDGET FOR AFRICAN BEACH GAMES

By Xolisile Sacolo | 2023-05-25

SPORTS - ESWATINI Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) board has further approved a budget of just under E1 million to send athletes to this year’s African Beach Games which will be held in Hammamet, Tunisia next month.

The association has selected 11 athletes to represent Eswatini at the African Beach Games and they had initially earmarked three sporting codes for consideration, namely beach volleyball, beach teqball and open water swimming.

This was announced by EOCGA CEO, Maxwell Jele during a press conference at the EOCGA offices when announcing the team that would represent the country at the continental showpiece.

Jele said they had learnt with disappointment during the recently held Games’ preparatory meeting in Tunisia which he attended, that they have not made the cut in the beach volleyball category and as such would not be part of the team.

However, there was a silver lining with the country being able to send another sporting code, athletics, instead of the beach volleyball.

He said the budget covers flights, accommodations, meals, uniforms and team allowance.
“As the Games commission was meeting over the team selection process, we then received pleasant news with regard to the inclusion of 10km beach marathon, and in effect broaden the pool of sporting codes we’ll compete in.

“We have approved E1 million budget for the competition and the team will spend five days in Tunisia. We hope our budget will meet all the needs,” he said.

attending
Jele said since it’s their first time attending the African Beach Games he believes that the team will use the tournament as a learning curve as well as a chance to promote their respective sporting codes like in other countries.

The CEO added that the teqball team would be travelling to St Lucia, in South Africa for the final team selection with the association finalising their preparations.
The team’s Chef De Mission (CDM) will be EOCGA Executive Member, Princess Thobile, who will be joined by the respective team managers in leading the team.

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