China-Kenya Friendship Games were a huge success at Nyayo National Stadium, proving to be a festive event of friendship and cultural exchange. Supported by the Embassy of China to Kenya and organized by KCETA, the China-Kenya Friendship Games brought together over 700 participants from 19 teams in an eventful platform for strengthening people-to-people relations.
China-Kenya Friendship Games Reinforce Cultural Exchange via Sport
The two major events of the day-long China–Kenya Friendship Games were competitive track and field events and fun games that encourage teamwork and interaction.
Athletics Competition
The track and field events included 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 4×100m relay, 4×400m relay, and long jump in which, altogether, 371 athletes from 19 teams participated. It was a place where Kenyan and Chinese athletes competed shoulder to shoulder, showing endurance, energy, and the true spirit of friendly competition, which the China–Kenya Friendship Games aim to promote.
Fun Games
The remaining 340 enthusiastically engaged in team-building activities, including tug-of-war, sack race, and the three-legged race, all accompanied by cheers from both sides, adding excitement to the China–Kenya Friendship Games.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Guo Haiyan, opened the event and emphasized the importance of cultural and people-centered exchanges in strengthening China-Kenya ties.
She noted that sports act as a powerful bridge between cultures and bring the communities closer to each other.
“The China-Kenya Friendship Games are a vivid example of cultural exchange and the growing friendship between our people,” Ambassador Haiyan said. “Our relations are now at their strongest level, and we hope Chinese enterprises continue supporting this cooperation and friendship.”
The event was also graced by Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi, CBS, of the State Department for Sports, who congratulated all participants. He said that sport shows the human connection behind every successful bilateral relationship.
“Sports remind us that relationships grow through everyday interactions-between colleagues, friends, and communities,” said PS Mwangi. “As Kenyans and Chinese meet on this field, we see unity that enriches our cooperation in trade, technology, manufacturing, and national development.”
More than in the competitions, the China–Kenya Friendship Games allowed the staff of Chinese enterprises in Kenya to get together, enjoy themselves, and get to know Kenyan culture outside the work environment. Most of the participants characterized it as refreshing and uplifting.
Yu Xiaodong, chairman of the KCETA, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to developing the China–Kenya Friendship Games into an annual flagship event. He said sport plays a key role in promoting understanding, healthy lifestyles, and stronger workplace cultures.
KCETA represents 103 Chinese enterprises in Kenya, which collectively hired more than 60,000 local employees between 2022 and 2023 90% of the total workforce. This demonstrates their big contribution to local employment.
PS Mwangi hailed the immense opportunity for increased collaboration between Kenya and China in sports. He added that Kenya will benefit from the advanced sports science, athlete monitoring technologies, and modern coaching systems of China, just as the Asian nation will learn a lot from world-famous high-altitude training regions like Iten, Nandi Hills, Eldoret, and Nyandarua in Kenya.
“We welcome Chinese athletes and teams to experience joint training camps, coaching exchanges, and development programmes that will benefit both countries,” PS Mwangi concluded the ceremony on a hopeful note for the future of the China-Kenya Friendship Games.
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