Durban will play host to the 2023 BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) Games until Saturday October 21. The Government through the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) in collaboration with the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government will host the games in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality as part of BRICS Chairship for 2023. The event started on Wednesday October 18.
The eThekwini Metro will welcome BRICS nations for the fifth edition of the BRICS Games. This initiative will see athletes from across the BRICS member countries compete at the highest level, said Zimasa Velaphi, head of DSAC communication and marketing.
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westridge Park Tennis Stadium, Kings Park Swimming Pool, and Bay of Plenty will host this years’ competition. Hundreds of athletes aged under 19 and 21 from across the BRICS nations will compete for various honours in five sporting codes namely, swimming (Kings Park Swimming Pool), badminton (UKZN Old Mutual Sports Hall), table tennis (UKZN Westville Campus Indoor Hall), tennis (Westridge Park Tennis Stadium) and beach volleyball (Bay of Plenty).
India organised the first BRICS Under-17 football tournament in Goa in October 2016.
This was followed by the second edition of BRICS Games that took place at Guangzhou in China in June 2017, wherein BRICS teams competed in volleyball, Wushu and Taolu games. South Africa organised and successfully hosted the third BRICS Games on July 22, 2018, at Johannesburg. The event comprised of men’s/women’s volleyball and women’s football events before the Covid-19 global pandemic saw China staging a virtual championship in 2022, said Ms Velaphi.
On recommendations from BRICS leaders’, South Africa will this time host an expanded BRICS Games championship programme. This will include more sporting codes and inclusive games that also include Paralympians participating in both tennis and table tennis for the very first time in the BRICS Games.
The 2023 BRICS Games promise to be a special experience for all, said Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa.
“Further to the strong partnerships that already exist between the BRICS nations, these games will also show the power of sport to unite and deepen connections. Sport epitomises the sheer human will and desire to overcome all odds. It brings people, communities, and nations together,” said Mr Kodwa.
