President Kabbah At Military Athletics Competition
By Yusuf Alghali

4th March 2004 - President Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah has commended the highly positive demonstration of cordiality between members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and their civilian counterparts.
Speaking shortly after he declared the RSLAF's annual athletics competition open at the National Stadium in Freetown on Thursday, 4 March 2004, the Commander-in-Chief, who was also grand chief patron at the event, underlined the significance of having both the military and the civilian population co-existing amicably.

The President who was accompanied by Vice President Berewa, ministers and State House officials, observed that it was equally significant that schoolchildren had been also invited to take part in the sports meet as they represent the foundation of the army's future. While urging competitors to strive hard to win President Kabbah, however, strongly encouraged would-be losers to embrace winners and vice versa, in the true spirit of sportsmanship.

Taking part in the three-day competition are the Maritime Wing, the Infantry Wing, the Air wing, Minor Units, Freetown Garrison, as well as the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Brigades from Kenema, Makeni and Bo respectively.

Competing athletes in their array of team colours will in the coming days be participating in a variety of track and field events, including the 100-metre sprint, the 200-metre and 400-metre hurdle events, javelin throwing and shot putting, relays and the tug-of-war. According to a Ministry of Defence Spokesman, Henmarth Adolphus Samuels, the competition has been designed to bring out the athletic skills and prowess of men and women in uniform and demonstrate to the public that being in the military is not all about fighting wars. He added that spectators must expect "a series of record-setting performances by athletes who, he said, had been training very to excel and win laurels in this year's competition".

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