The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will host the 2019 Diplomatic Sports Competition in March, Francis Njoaguani, Director, ECOWAS Youth and sports Development Centre said on Tuesday.

Njoaguani told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the event would hold from March 9-13 in Abuja.

He said there would be no registration nor participation fee to be charged in this edition of the games adding that donations are however welcomed.

According to him, the games will commence with a road walk on March 9 and end with a Gala Night on March 13.

“The event will hold consecutively in three centres, namlely: Abuja National Stadium (package A and B), The IBB international Golf and Country Club and the Nicon Luxury Hotel,” he said.

Njoaguan said that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed recently by ECOWAS president and the Diplomatic Sports Organisation (DSO) president for a successful hosting of the event.

“We have been having meetings with the Europeans Union members, ECOWAS member, UN agencies and Commissions; we want to make the participating countries to be well informed about the event,’’ he said.

He said the Touch of Unity or the Games Flame would be rotated among participating agencies, organisations and embassies.

He noted that a total of 18 sports will be featured in the event: Badminton, basketball, Billiards, Chess, Cycling, Football, Golf, and Scrabble.

Others are: Snooker, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Monopoly, Tug of War, Darts and athletics.

He said ECOWAS and Diplomatic Sports Organising ministry will ensure that participants have a sense of integration and unity which was the guiding spirit of the competition. (NAN)