UNIVERSITY OF GHANA LAUNCHES 2020 GUSA GAMES
The 2020 Ghana Universities Sports Association (GUSA) Games has been launched during a simple and brief but impressive programme by the Local Organising Committee under the auspices of the University of Ghana Sports Directorate. The Games will be under the theme “Integrating Sports into Academia for Youth Empowerment and Development.” The event was also used to unveil the logo, theme song and mascot for the games.
Professor Offei Calls for Greater investment in Sports
Professor Samuel Kwame Offei, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chairperson for the Local Organising Committee, who chaired the launch recounted in his remarks the importance of integrating sports into academia in developing a holistic individuals for the job market. He reiterated the fact that one can do sports and still excel in his academic laurels.
He emphasized the essential use of sports as a powerful tool in bridging gaps in society, serving as tool in addressing development at both individual, community and national levels. He entreated all and sundry to see sports as an investment just like any other venture and as such a lot more people should be trained to become experts to manage and promote it just like any business entity.
Appeal to Government
Professor Samuel Offei made known that the first tranche of money provided for the UG Stadium has been used and application has been put through for the remaining funds to be released for completion of work. He hopes the government will provide the remaining funds to enable work proceed and not stall. He humbly appealed to government to support Universities in putting up stadiums with tartan tracks and multipurpose sports halls for the promotion and development of sports in the country
GUSA President Applauds UG
The GUSA President, Dr. Charles Domfeh congratulated the Management of UG and the Local Organising Committee for the preparation which has started earnestly to ensure a memorable hosting of the 2020 GUSA Games.
He averred that the Federation of African University Sports (FASU) is knocking on the doors of GUSA to consider the hosting of the 2022 or 2024 and hopes UG will do so as the premier University.
Unveiling of Competition Logo, Theme Song and Mascot
Professor Samuel Offei and Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu, Chairperson and Co-Chair of the LOC respectively jointly unveiled the Games logo which was designed by Mr. Samuel Ofosu Assamoah, a former President of the UG Debate Society now pursuing law studies at the Ghana School of Law. For winning the logo competition, he was presented with a cheque of Five Hundred Ghana Cedis.
Mr. John Edmundson Sam of the School of Performing Arts, UG composed the theme song for the Games. The song was unveiled with students from the performing arts dancing to it. Mr. Sam received a prize cheque of One Thousand Ghana Cedis as the winner of the theme song competition. The Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor, ASA further added Five Hundred Cedis each to both winners.
The official mascot for the 2020 GUSA Games named “NILEYGON” meaning Hill of Knowledge was also unveiled. Click here to see logo, mascot and download theme song
Director of Sports Promises a Well Organised Games
The Director of Sports of UG and the Co-Chair for the LOC, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu promised all participating Universities and the public of a well-planned and world class competition befitting the status of a world class university. He added that the leadership of the Sports Directorate and its Staff will do their maximum best to ensure UG lives up to expectation. He thus called on the support of all and sundry in making Legon 2020 a memorable one.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Congratulates Director of Sports
In his closing remarks as Chairperson of the LOC, Professor Offei expressed the university’s sincere gratitude to the Director of Sports, Dr. Bella Bello Bitugu for all the efforts he has put in Sports Directorate’s activities for the University to enjoy such great visibility in the country and internationally.
He thanked the University Community for their commitment and zeal towards sports promotion on campus.
Present at the launch were members of the Local Organising Committee, Directors, members of the Sports Advisory Board and Sports Management Committee of the University, UG Sports Ambassador, GUSA Executives and members of the University Community.
Please click here to view the video of the launch
Please click here for more pictures of the event
