It is all systems go at the Africa Deaf Ball Games Qualifiers following a colorful opening ceremony that was presided over by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amb. Amina Mohammed among other dignitaries at Kasarani Stadium this evening.Speaking at the ceremony, Amina said that the competition is special in that it guarantees deaf sportspersons physical and mental fitness and provides them with the opportunity to take part in sports just like their hearing enabled counterparts.”This special competition for deaf sportspersons is to guarantee the physical and mental well-being of deaf sportspeople and provide them with opportunities to participate in elite sports. I wish the participating teams success, good luck to those who will secure tickets to represent Africa at the 24 summer deaflympics games in Brazil. It gives me tremendous pleasure to declare this Deaflympics ball games qualifier officially launched,” the CS said.#DeaflympicsOpeningCeremony President Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports President Mohammed Madoun (Left) @AMB_A_Mohammed CS @moscakenya (Right) pic.twitter.com/ehBCfEd9DE— Africa Deaf Ball Games Qualifiers (@ADBGQ2021) September 13, 2021 Confederation of Africa Deaf Sports President Mohammed Madoun thanked the government of Kenya for the efforts put together to see the success of the event.”The intention of this competition is to have a team that will represent us in Brazil Deaflympics 2022. We are going to have the first-ever ball game championship here in Kenya where will pick the first and second to go to Brazil to represent Africa. Thank you to the government of Kenya that has made it possible for this event to happen,” Madoun signed.The competition’s CEO, Miriam Opondo urged the participants to show sportsmanships, noting that there can be either a winner or loser and that does not make them enemies.CEO of Africa Deaflympics, Miriam Opondo, expressing her excitement and appreciation to the attendees and particiants of #deaflympicsNairobi #DeaflympicsOpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/DtYj9xTHEW— Africa Deaf Ball Games Qualifiers (@ADBGQ2021) September 13, 2021 She also pleaded with the ambassadors of the countries involved to continue supporting deaf sports in their respective countries even after this competition.”We have been waiting for this event, the first-ever event. It was meant to happen in April but because of Covid we had to postpone it but right now we are having this event and I am happy you have all flown in. I want to encourage all of the participating countries and the ambassadors from these participating countries. Let us try and support deaf sports in these countries. To the competitors, know that you can win or lose and when you lose it does not mean that we become enemies. Let us love and respect one another,” Opondo said.Men’s football kicked off on Saturday before the opening ceremony and two games have already been played.Senegal beat hosts Kenya 3-1 in the opening match on Sunday before Egypt hammered Somaliland heavily, beating them 10-1 on Sunday.ADBGQ2021: Egypt off to a flying start in Africa Deaf Ball Games
