Commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Burkina Faso
Commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Burkina Faso
From 21 May to 2 June 2023, a series of educational and sporting events was organised in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, a series of educational and sporting activities were organised to mark the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the theme ‘Towards Shared Prosperity’.
As part of these celebrations, the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS/ECOWAS) collaborated with the ECOWAS Representation in Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, and several Burkinabè sports federations to organise the programme.
Activities included the ECOWAS Cycling Grand Prix, the 9th edition of the football academy tournament, a boxing gala, an international pétanque tournament, a panel discussion on the free movement of goods and people, and an inter-school public speaking and debating competition in Ouagadougou, the aim of which was to raise the profile of ECOWAS amongst pupils and to instil in them, in addition to the art of public speaking, the values of peace, tolerance and civic-mindedness for the prosperity of the community.
The commemorative week continued on 28 May on Boulevard du Général Charles de Gaulle, with the flagship event of the celebrations in Burkina Faso: the ECOWAS Cycling Grand Prix, under the watchful and enthusiastic gaze of the Burkinabè Minister for Sport, Mr Boubacar SAVADOGO, the ECOWAS Resident Representative, the French Ambassador, the President of the Burkinabe Cycling Federation, the directors and representatives of the various ECOWAS bodies in Ouagadougou, and the president of the Centre Cycling League. Fifty-three professional cyclists from 13 clubs took part in this criterium, covering a distance of 132 km over 30 laps of a 4.4 km closed circuit. At the end of this epic race, it was Moukaïla Rawende of AS Bessel who claimed the winner’s yellow jersey in a time of 3 hours 27 minutes 14 seconds, at an average speed of 38.21 km/h, under the admiring gaze of the dignitaries in attendance.
Alongside this cycling grand prix, an initial race was held for junior boys and girls over a distance of 13.2 km. The women’s race was won by Bamogo Awa, of the Union Sportive des Forces Armées burkinabè, with an average speed of 27.26 km/h, finishing in 29 minutes and three seconds ahead of around twenty other cyclists. Ahead of around ten riders in the junior category, the winner, Ouédraogo Idrissa of the RCK, completed the course in 24 minutes 17 seconds at an average speed of 32.61 km/h.
