South Sudan hosted its first-ever Sports Financing Conference in Juba on Wednesday, aiming to secure funding to enhance sports development in the country.
The three-day event, organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in partnership with the Bank of South Sudan, brings together government officials, sports federations, athletes, investors, and donors to explore innovative strategies for financing the growth of sports in South Sudan.
In his capacity as guest of honor, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ramadan Mohamed Abdallah Goc, highlighted the conference’s goal of establishing new financial models to support the country’s sports sector.
“Sports is one of the key sectors that require our collective effort to build. This conference allows us to brainstorm ways to finance and develop the sports sector. There are two main types of financing for sports development,” said Goc.
He emphasized the conference’s focus on stimulating discussions about improving sports activities and accelerating investment opportunities in the sector. He also stressed the importance of specializing in specific sports to help South Sudan become a regional leader in athletics.
Meanwhile, Joseph Geng Akech, Minister of Youth and Sports, clarified that the conference was not a fundraising event but rather an opportunity to explore investment prospects.
“We are engaging with all the sports federations present to identify potential partnership opportunities. This is not a fundraising event but an investment scoping opportunity. If you are a private business or corporate entity, this is the chance to explore investment possibilities with the respective sports federations here,” Geng explained.
He added that the conference aimed to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders to strengthen efforts in sports and contribute to the country’s aspirations for peace, unity, and development.
Earlier this month, the National Council of Ministers approved US$250,000 for the Ministry of Youth and Sports to organize a conference to raise US$9.08 million for the men and women teams.
“The conference will be held here in Juba from November 26 -28, and he is requesting US$250,000 to help raise US$9.08 for funding these teams,” Information Minister Michael Makuei said.