By Tilda Acorlor
The All Regional Games (AGR), aimed at unearthing talented athletes and rekindling grassroots multi-sporting events across the country, has officially announced its presence in the Volta Region.
Former Black Stars Captain, Asamoah Gyan, who is the mastermind of the sporting event, was in Ho, the Volta regional capital, with his team for a torch relay ceremony and to inaugurate a local organising committee for the event in the region.
At a short media briefing, the program’s head, Franklin, said the event seeks to empower grassroots sports development in Ghana and create a pathway for untapped talents to succeed in their sporting dreams.
Asamoah Gyan, who said he has been brewing the idea of the All-Regional Games for the past 10 years, is hopeful the games will discover and encourage more athletes for the nation so Ghana can dominate in international competitions.
“It’s something I have been thinking about for some time now. If you follow my records, when I was in my prime, I was a Boxing Promoter, I played tennis, and of course football.”
“Thinking through, I just decided to do something beyond football to help the next generation benefit in some years to come so we don’t see one or two Ghanaians participating in the Olympic games.
I want Ghana to dominate in all sporting disciplines at the Olympics; my struggles have been with implementation; lo and behold, the All-Regional Games came on board,” Asamoah Gyan said.
The Black Stars’ top goal scorer also called for the support of all and sundry ahead of the games in November.
“The All Regional Games is here to stay. I will need your support to make this happen so a lot more people can achieve their dreams,” he added.
In attendance were the Chief Director of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), Mr. Augustus K. Awity, Dean of Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs), Hon. Etornam James Flolu, who received the torch on behalf of the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Y. Letsa, for the region, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Divine Bosson.
The rest are the Regional Director of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Joyce Datsa, the Chairman, of the Volta Regional Football Association, Daniel Agbogah, and several heads of Sports Associations.
After the media briefing, a street procession was organised with Gyan carrying an illuminated torch through the principal streets of Ho, signifying the readiness, awareness, and countdown to the multi-sport event.
The main launch of the highly anticipated Regional Games is slated for June 15, 2024, at the Baba Yara Stadium, while the main event is set to take place on November 4, 2024.
The games will cover nine (9) sporting disciplines, which include Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, and Boxing. The rest are Football, Athletics, Armwrestling, and Para sports.
During the event, a region that emerges as the winner in any of the nine disciplines aside from football will get a facility (e.g. boxing, volleyball tennis, etc.) built in honour of their success.
A seven-member committee led by the Volta NSA Director, Joyce Dataa, will be in charge of the organisation in the Volta Region.
