The 2018 edition of the Friendship Games started in Bujumbura (Burundi). The multi-sport event brings together 200 young athletes from Burundi, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of Peace and Sport’s ongoing efforts to use sport as a tool for dialogue around the world. 

The 2018 edition of the Friendship Games started in the Great Lakes Region in an extraordinary demonstration of trans-border cooperation as the multi-sport event will be held this year in Bujumbura, Burundi and Uvira, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

The Games, which bring together 150 children from youth centers in the areas bordering Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, will see a host of high-level authority representatives and diplomats, international sports federations and Champions for Peace join Peace and Sport to endorse the power of sport for positive change.

The WKF cooperates with Peace and Sport to make this event a success and to foster cultural exchanges and peace-building activities. The competition starts on Friday with Karate being one of the disciplines in the sports programme. The activities have begun on Wednesday as over 50 coaches from the Great Lakes region are participating in the different seminars being conducted there prior to the competition. 

The Karate seminars are headed by WKF representative in the Friendship Games, Fodé Ndao. A World Championships runner-up and African Champion, Fodé Ndao is an international coach who acts as the technical coordinator of the high-level programmes of the Karate Federation of Senegal. Mr. Ndao will oversee the Karate competition and is leading the Karate seminars there. 

“I am very pleased to participate in this event which brings around people to meet through peace and tolerance. The Friendship Games are very close to our Karate values of acceptance, discipline, and goodwill, and I am very happy to represent the WKF here to share all these values. Events like this are very important for us as Karate is getting closer to make its Olympic debut, and they help us make our sport and these values known throughout the world,” said Fodé Ndao. 

The ninth edition of the Friendships Games is an “excellent opportunity to promote ideals such as respect and solidarity”, said WKF President Antonio Espinós.

“The World Karate Federation is committed to continuing spreading the message of peace around the world; we are devoted to our efforts of showcasing the power of sports in the expansion of social values, and we believe that our association with Peace and Sport is crucial, as this organisation is a true champion in working to create a better world. For the WKF it is an honour to be involved in projects like these Friendship Games,” added Mr. Espinós. 

“In addition to the distribution of equipment and different materials, the WKF is also providing technical guidance, with the help of the national federation of Burundi, and the designation of an internationally-renowned coach to oversee the seminars and the different activities during the three-day event. I am sure that the 2018 Friendship Games will be a big success; I hope that the youngsters participating in the Karate competition there will make the most of this experience and will help us to show the strength of our Karate values,” declared the president of the World Karate Federation. 

In an extraordinary demonstration of trans-border cooperation and commitment to promoting better inter-cultural dialogue through sport, governments from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo accepted to host the 2018 Games. With the attendance of H.E Mr. Bruno Tshibala, Prime Minister, H.E Mr. Papy Niango Iziamay Minister of Sport, Laurent Dupont, Peace and Sport General Director and Olympic medalists Marlène Harnois, the Games will be officially opened on Saturday 18th August in Uvira, DRC. 

“Since 2010, the Friendship Games help as a platform of dialogue and cooperation in the Great Lakes region. This year, particularly we are proud to announce that two countries will be hosting the Games in an effort to promote peace through sport in the Great Lakes region," said Joël Bouzou, president and founder of Peace and Sport.