“A Letter from the Ambassador of Japan to South Sudan”
2016/2/5
Vol. 10: Sports for Peace and Unity
A national event to wish for peace in South Sudan was held in Juba for a week starting on January 16, 2016. The occasion was called the “National Unity Day” sporting event in the theme of Sports for Peace and Unity. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports organized the event in collaboration with JICA and UNESCO, with the participation of as many as 350 athletes from nine cities.
In the 1970s, just after the end of the first civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, a sporting event entitled the “National Unity Day” kicked off in Southern Sudan, but it was soon forced to be suspended. I was told that this occasion marked the first time that a nation-wide sporting event had been held since the independence of South Sudan. JICA started the cooperation to distill Japan’s experience of National Sports Festival and apply it to South Sudan’s nation-building effort as well as to facilitate South Sudanese athletes’ participation in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The Opening Ceremony on the first day held at the National Stadium was quite spectacular; in the presence of dignitaries including Vice President, H. E. James Wani Igga, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Nadia Arop, Jubek State Governor, Hon. Augustino Jadalla, and JICA Vice President, Mr. Hiroshi Kato, participating athletes from all cities marched around the Stadium to show their prowess. From the level of participation and remarks by senior representatives, I felt their strong wish to generate a sense of solidarity and unity through this truly national event.
From Day 2 onward, the track and field races and football matches between participating cities were conducted, which were widely covered by the local media and quickly became the talk of citizens. I went to see the finals of athletics sports and was very much moved by runners from various cities genuinely trying their very best to win the race. The medals bestowed to the victorious athletes are literally the beacon of their regained self-confidence and elevated recognition.
During the week of the National Unity Day event, peacebuilding games were organized as well in which members from different cities were asked to form groups and competed against others. At their accommodation facilities, athletes from different cities shared rooms. Such were the arrangements to facilitate exchanges between athletes from all over the country. On the final day, the football tournament ended with Bentiu snatching the trophy from Wau and concluded the week-long event.
The sporting event came into being through numerous Japanese partners’ collective efforts. The Self-Defence Forces’ engineering company at UNMISS and Japanese construction corporations rendered the originally bumpy site into an immaculate sporting field. The Self-Defence Forces’ members also demonstrated a drum performance at the Opening Ceremony. The final day saw not only JICA but also staff from the Japanese Embassy, Japanese Engineering Contingent, and Japanese private corporations join the Clean-up Campaign of the athletic field and collect garbage with Juba City Council cleaners and athletes.
Last but not least, I was most impressed by the strong support and interest from a wide range of South Sudanese, Government Ministers and ordinary citizens alike, in this nation-wide sporting event. I believe that this demonstrates a strong wish of the people of South Sudan to enjoy cultural activities under a peaceful environment. It is my hope that young people throughout South Sudan will enjoy this annual nation-wide sporting event as an outlet to show their utmost and it provides for the competitive spirits to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in four years’ time.
In the 1970s, just after the end of the first civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, a sporting event entitled the “National Unity Day” kicked off in Southern Sudan, but it was soon forced to be suspended. I was told that this occasion marked the first time that a nation-wide sporting event had been held since the independence of South Sudan. JICA started the cooperation to distill Japan’s experience of National Sports Festival and apply it to South Sudan’s nation-building effort as well as to facilitate South Sudanese athletes’ participation in 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
 At the Opening Ceremony |
 Regional representatives’ march |
The Opening Ceremony on the first day held at the National Stadium was quite spectacular; in the presence of dignitaries including Vice President, H. E. James Wani Igga, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Hon. Nadia Arop, Jubek State Governor, Hon. Augustino Jadalla, and JICA Vice President, Mr. Hiroshi Kato, participating athletes from all cities marched around the Stadium to show their prowess. From the level of participation and remarks by senior representatives, I felt their strong wish to generate a sense of solidarity and unity through this truly national event.
 Track and Field |
 Awarding ceremony for winners |
From Day 2 onward, the track and field races and football matches between participating cities were conducted, which were widely covered by the local media and quickly became the talk of citizens. I went to see the finals of athletics sports and was very much moved by runners from various cities genuinely trying their very best to win the race. The medals bestowed to the victorious athletes are literally the beacon of their regained self-confidence and elevated recognition.
 Peacebuilding games |
 Awarding Ceremony for the football winners
|
During the week of the National Unity Day event, peacebuilding games were organized as well in which members from different cities were asked to form groups and competed against others. At their accommodation facilities, athletes from different cities shared rooms. Such were the arrangements to facilitate exchanges between athletes from all over the country. On the final day, the football tournament ended with Bentiu snatching the trophy from Wau and concluded the week-long event.
 Field leveling by Japanese Engineering Contingent of UNMISS |
 Volunteers from Japanese corporations taking part in the clean-up campaign |
The sporting event came into being through numerous Japanese partners’ collective efforts. The Self-Defence Forces’ engineering company at UNMISS and Japanese construction corporations rendered the originally bumpy site into an immaculate sporting field. The Self-Defence Forces’ members also demonstrated a drum performance at the Opening Ceremony. The final day saw not only JICA but also staff from the Japanese Embassy, Japanese Engineering Contingent, and Japanese private corporations join the Clean-up Campaign of the athletic field and collect garbage with Juba City Council cleaners and athletes.
Last but not least, I was most impressed by the strong support and interest from a wide range of South Sudanese, Government Ministers and ordinary citizens alike, in this nation-wide sporting event. I believe that this demonstrates a strong wish of the people of South Sudan to enjoy cultural activities under a peaceful environment. It is my hope that young people throughout South Sudan will enjoy this annual nation-wide sporting event as an outlet to show their utmost and it provides for the competitive spirits to win medals at the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in four years’ time.