The Diplomatic Games Week, which featured golf, tennis, chess and football was concluded in Abuja last Sunday with the pair of Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Abiola Amodu and Adamu Salisu winning the mixed doubles title of the tennis event, while set of Ikani Agabi and Sani Tijani emerged runner-up.
Tennis had the week-long games at the tennis section of IBB International Golf & Country Club with matches running to five days.
AVM Saliu Atawodi, Obinna Ofodum, Biodun Jegede and Zacchy Akinjogbin were the semifinalists.
In the chess event held at Fraser Suites, Chidera Chukwu of British High Commission checkmated Danielle of the Embassy of Ukraine in the final, while Pedro Alurralde of the Embassy of Argentina came third.
In the semifinals, Nigeria (Fraser Suites) encountered the British High Commission, while the Embassy of Argentina slugged it out with Ukrainian Embassy, represented by Davyd Hohiia.
Chukwu edged out Emmanuel Ogar of Nigeria (Fraser Suites) to make it to the final, while Alurralde defeated Ogar in the third place match.
In football, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) emerged the winner with six points having recorded victory over the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
In a knockout format, five-man teams from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM and Embassy of Japan slogged it out, playing against one another. MFA and NIDCOM recorded victory over The Embassy of Japan.
The Diplomatic Games Week rounded up with sixth edition of Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament. It was, as usual, a convergence of diplomats from embassies and international organisations, and non-diplomats alike.
Started as Diplomacy Stableford Golf Tournament in 2019 at Ikoyi Club 1938, Lagos, the tournament was upped and made more inclusive, with the support of MFA.
As usual, especially with the golf activity of the week, it was a colorful gathering of diplomats of diverse nationalities.
The 2024 edition witnessed more diplomats winning the usual coveted prizes. With 54 stableford points, Florent Mangin from Embassy of France won the men’s category.
British High Commission’s Martine Sobey carded 47 Stableford points, which made her top the ladies’ category. Both Mangin and Sobey went home with a flight ticket and a weekend stay at a golf resorts, courtesy Uganda Airlines and Lake Victoria Golf Resorts & Spa.
‘Best Diplomat Score’, which is a special prize reserved for diplomats, to ensure that at least one diplomat wins a prize, was recorded by Brian Neubert of the United States embassy.
The Chief of Protocol at MFA, Ambassador Ben Okoyen, who performed ceremonial tee off on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, said that the event is one that the diplomatic community in Nigeria has been waiting for, as it provides prime opportunity for interaction and cooperation that can advance sports diplomacy between Nigeria and nations whose diplomatic missions she plays host to, and consequently contribute to sports development in Nigeria.
CEO of Diplomacy Publishing & Events, Sòókò Deji Ajomale-McWord expressed joy over the zest with which the diplomatic community welcomed the idea of a recreational convergence of the diplomatic community. “Four days into The Diplomatic Games Week, my phone was still ringing incessantly with calls from different embassies. The acceptance is more than encouraging and it can only grow bigger from here”, he said.
Diplomacy Publishing & Events are the organisers of The Diplomatic Games Week and The Trade Relations Cup™️.
