Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo athletes playing basketball together at the Friendship Games

Bujumbura - Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) basketball athletes played in the same team this weekend for the first time at the Friendship Games. The Friendship Games are organized annually by Peace and Sport and the respective host countries’ National Olympic Committees and were held this weekend in Bujumbura, Burundi and Uvira, DRC. 

FIBA's Foundation (the International Basketball Foundation, IBF) is supporting the Friendship Games for the second year in a row. 

The three-day event aims at promoting dialogue and multicultural exchange in the Great Lakes region.

This year the Friendship Games took place in Bujumbura, Burundi and Uvira, DRC from 17^th to 19^th August 2018 under the presence of Congolese Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala and Sport Minister Papy Nyango, as well Burundi President Special Advisor Jean-Jacques Nyenimigabo and Bujumbura’s Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa.

During the Opening Ceremony of the Friendship Games, mixed Burundi and RDC basketball teams, including players from organization Promo Jeune Basket, played a friendly match in an extraordinary demonstration of trans-border cooperation and sport diplomacy. Boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 17 competed in mixed teams in Uvira, South Kivu, one of the most-affected provinces by population movement in DRC.

“It is a gesture for peace and dialogue in the region,” Peace and Sport President and Founder Joel Bouzou tells following the conclusion of the Games. “The Friendship Games are a good step to promote multicultural exchange between youngsters and a great opportunity to international sport federations and high-level athletes to endorse the power of sport for positive change”.

This year 150 youngsters and 50 animators from five community centers located in Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC participated in the Friendship Games. Burundi National Olympic Committee, Peace and Sport Champions for Peace and eight international federations supported the Games during a three-day event, which was marked by sport seminars, capacity building and peace-building workshops. Youngsters played in 12 disciplines, which were designed to promote positive values and Peace and Sport “Sport Simple” methodology.

Champions for Peace Isabelle Yacoubou, basketball Olympic medalist and Marlène Harnois, taekwondo Olympic medalist, served as ambassadors and role models during the peace building workshops at the Friendship Games.

IBF President Sheikh Saud Ali Al-Thani said: “We are very proud to be involved in the Friendship Games again this year. This event shows the positive impact that sport can have, bringing people together with a common interest. It is completely part of our strategy of using sports, particularly basketball for good”.