The highly anticipated WAUG games, themed ‘Promoting Unity and Excellence in West Africa through Sports’ officially commenced yesterday, Sunday 17th of December, with an opening ceremony with march past by participating universities in alphabetical order followed by the welcome address by the President of WAUG, Mr. Ibrahim Tanko SHAIBU, and the Vice Chancellor of the host University, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, then to the Lighting of the Games Torch and a performance by the Cultural Troupe from the Department of Dramatic Arts among others.
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The Basketball game which was scheduled to commence today around 08:00 am and is visible to end by 04:00 pm was postponed till 03:00 pm. While the Table Tennis draws took place today by 02:00 pm at the University’s table tennis hall.
Other lineups of events are scheduled to start on Tuesday 19th December,2023.
WEST AFRICAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FEDERATION CHAMPIONSHIP OAU-2023
Below is the timetable for the Man(M) and Woman(W) sessions.
ATHLETICS PROGRAMME
DAY 1 – TUESDAY, 19TH DECEMBER
MORNING SESSION
9.00 A.M. – 1,500m (M/W) – FINAL
– HIGH JUMP (M/W) – FINAL
9.30 A.M. – 100m (M/W) – SEMI FINAL
– SHOT PUT (M/W) – FINAL
10.20 A.M. – 400m (M/W) – SEMI FINAL
11.30A.M. – 4x100m (M/W) – FINAL
AFTERNOON SESSION
2.30P.M. – 110mH/100mH (M/W) – FINAL
– JAVELIN (M/W) – FINAL
TRIPLE JUMP (M/W) – FINAL
3.00 P.M. – 800m (M/W) – FINAL
3.30 P.M. – 100m (M/W) – FINAL
4.00P.M. – 4x400m (M/W) – FINAL
DAY 2 – 20TH DECEMBER
MORNING SESSION
9.00 A.M. – 5,000m (M) – FINAL
– DISCUS (M/W) – FINAL
10.00 A.M. – 400m (M/W) – FINAL
AFTERNOON SESSION
2.30 P.M. – 200m (M/W) – SEMI FINAL
– LONG JUMP (M/W) – FINAL
3.30P.M. – 400mH (M/W) – FINAL
4.00 P.M. – 5,000m (W) – FINAL
4.30 P.M. – 200m (M/W) – FINAL
5.00 P.M. – 4x100m MIXED RELAY – FINAL
Speaking with ACJ OAU Correspondent, Sumbade Jnr, The Director of Sports of Great Ife Students’ Union, in his words, ‘I am happy, joyous, glad and proud that this game got hosted by my university and most especially in my tenure as the Director of Sports of the Students’ Union. Our plans and expectations are what we have seen so far.
He furthermore said an invitation was sent to the Presidency of Nigeria and also the Governor of Osun State earlier before the commencement of the games and that they’ll be expecting them soon.
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Furthermore, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, The Honourable Minister of Interior of the Federal Republic has been expected to have arrived since yesterday but hasn’t probably because of a tight schedule’ he said.
Sumbade further clarified that the unavailability of some universities was a result of first, the distance of the host University, the Obafemi Awolowo University to some countries and also, the amount required to register a single athlete which is up to #170,000 Naira converted from foreign currency. ‘The availability of some universities from Ghana was as a result of the closeness in a distance of Ghana to Nigeria’, he said.
He said that in the competition, there are expectations of 4 games scheduled; they are Athletics(Track and Field events), Table Tennis, Tennis, and Basketball.
He stated that the track and field event consists of the relay, Long Jump, Javelin, etc.
In addition, he said any other important information would be disseminated to the public as soon as possible.