By Sadiq Bamwita
ENTEBBE
Technical delegates from the Federation of International University sports (FISU,) on April 18, 2024 made an inspection visit at facilities in Entebbe that will host the 2024 world university championship mind sports and okayed them.
According to the tournament organizing committee, the competition will feature Chess and bridge games and the two games will be played at Entebbe Botanical Beach hotel starting from June 24th to June 30th, 2024.
While addressing the press, the FISU Technical Director, Lukasz Turley said the upcoming championship is a very important event in the world of sports for chess and Bridge game.
He revealed that more than 20 countries are expected in Uganda and that in the Chess game, 19 countries have confirmed participation while for the Bridge game, 11 countries have also confirmed participation.
In Chess game countries including hosts Uganda, Poland, France, Turkiye and Angola among others are expected to participate. While in the Bridge game countries including hosts Uganda, USA, China, Slovakia, France, Poland and Kenya are among the 11 countries to participate in this mind sports game.
“The tournament will only feature University students and the cut-off age is 25 years and below. Many university students involved in both Chess and Bridge games will have a huge opportunity to showcase their talent on the global sports scene,” he says.
The World Bridge Federation committee member Helen Kruger said it would be so exciting to have young University students from Africa play Bridge games saying they may find it difficult to play competent Bridge players across the world.
“The Bridge game is a wonderful innovation in Africa, however it’s going to be difficult for African players to play against competent players across the world. We are very hopeful that before the tournament begins in June this year we would have got all the required equipment for the tournament,’ Kruger says.
The president of Uganda Chess Federation, Eng. Emmanuel Mwaka said the upcoming tournament will expose Ugandan chess players and that the Chess Federation is looking forward to enhancing the capacity of its equipment ahead of the World University Championship Mind sports.
“I am very certain the upcoming championship will expose our players at the global sports scene. All the games will be broadcasted live to the whole world courtesy of the International University Sports Federation. As Uganda Chess Federation, we shall provide chess boards and manufactured equipment to be used during the tournament. On the kickoff day we shall unveil plastic mats to be used throughout the championship,” Mwaka says.
The President of Bridge game in Uganda, Linus Wamanya said bridge game is a mindset game and helps the players to sharpen their minds in addition to helping athletes to become good mathematicians.
“Unlike other games, the Bridge game involves bidding, submitting proposals and then people comply with it. The game involves thinking a lot and we are hopeful the tournament will go on successfully,” he said.
The Chairperson of the tournament organizing committee, Vincent Kisenyi, said Bridge game is doing a commendable job and asked those responsible for the game in Uganda to register it. He added that the game needs affiliation to be able to progress further.
The Vice president of the International University sports Federation (FISU), Peninah Aligawesa Kabenge said that for new sports to be recognized, it must fulfill the required requirements to be able to receive government funding.
The General manager Entebbe Botanical Beach Hotel, George Opio, assured participants of total security and that the hotel has enough rooms and facilities for the tournament.
