West African Games

The West African Games (French: Jeux d'Afrique de l'Ouest) was an international multi-sport event between the nations of West Africa, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. Opened on 27 August by Nigeria's head of state, Olusegun Obasanjo, ten countries took part in the eight-day competition.[1] A total of eleven sports were contested.[2]

The competition was also called the ECOWAS Games on account of all participating nations being from the Economic Community of West African States, founded in Lagos two years earlier. It was organised by the ECOWAS Games Council headed by Dan Isokrari. During the games, a second edition to be held in 1979 in Cotonou, Benin was announced,[3] though this did not come to pass.[4]

Some sources referred to this competition as the second West African Games, in light of a previous event organised in 1960.[4][5]

  1. ^ Nigeria: First Ever West African Games Open In Lagos 1977. British Pathe. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  2. ^ Jeux régionaux et sous-régionaux (in French). Comite International Olympique (2012-11-29). Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  3. ^ Addo-Twum, J.K. (1977). Daily Graphic: Issue 8354 August 29, 1977. Graphic Communications Group Limited. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  4. ^ a b West African Games. GBR Athletics. Retrieved 2019-09-12.
  5. ^ Karate, 2nd West African Games, Lagos, Nigeria serie, circa 1977.. DreamsTime. Retrieved 2019-09-12.