A delegation led by President Charles Osei Asibey of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), alongside Godson Kwame Asem and Husseini Akuettteh Addy, is currently in Kazakhstan to advocate for Ghana’s candidacy to host the 2024 World Armwrestling Championship in Accra.
The Ghanaian team is participating in the World Armwrestling Federation congress held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. During this event, a decision will be reached regarding the selection of the host country for the championship scheduled for next year.
Ghana’s bid to host the championship has garnered substantial support from entities including Ghana’s Minister of Youth and Sports (MOYS), the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC), and various other institutions.
This initiative stems from President Osei Asibey’s appeal during the previous congress for an African nation to host the World Championship. He highlighted the extensive history of the event in Europe and the Americas spanning over 45 years.
Explaining the significance of the bid, the sports entrepreneur emphasized that hosting the championship holds vast opportunities for Ghana and Africa. The event will provide numerous Africans with their inaugural chance to compete on a global stage.
Furthermore, President Osei Asibey articulated that the 2024 World Armwrestling Championship will amplify the progress achieved by the GAF since its inception. It will leverage the momentum generated by the successful hosting of the 2018 and 2023 Africa Championships to bolster development and expansion.
In terms of infrastructure, President Osei Asibey pointed out that Ghana intends to leverage the legacy left by the 2023 African Games hosted by the country. This includes utilizing personnel, infrastructure, transportation, and accommodations. These resources will be harnessed to ensure a successful 2024 World Armwrestling Championship while capitalizing on the benefits of the Accra 2023 African Games.
Additionally, the World Armwrestling Federation has decided to send a Technical Expert to conduct a WAF Referees/Coaches Certification Course during the championship. Hosting the event in Ghana will provide national referees with an exceptional opportunity to undergo examination and obtain certification, enabling them to wear the esteemed WAF Referees Badge.
President Charles Osei Asibey, who also serves as the President of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa and Vice President of WAF, emphasized the global promotion potential of the championship. Anticipating over 2,000 tourists visiting Ghana, he highlighted the event’s capacity to not only showcase the country but also contribute to tourism and business growth.
He stated, “Expecting potential investors as Armwrestling brings together business-oriented people with different backgrounds and the many visitors, apart from exchanging visas, will also spend on hotels, food, tourism, transport, etc.”
The World Armwrestling Championship is a premier global event in the sport, attracting top athletes annually. The convergence of elite Pullers competing for supremacy draws over 2,000 athletes, coaches, referees, and spectators. This annual festival is endorsed and supervised by the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF).
SOURCE: GraphicOnline
