Scrabble Kenya president (SK) president Kipkemboi Limo has set focus to improve the sport in the country after he was elected as a member of World English Scrabble Players Association Championships (WESPAC) executive member.
“As a member of the board, I will have the voting rights, meaning Kenya has a say on matters of scrabble on the globe as a voting member,” said Limo.
Limo was elected into the body alongside Ghana Scrabble Association president Haruna Adamu, who joined the President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation Olobatoke Aka and Lukemon Owolabi who both retained their seats.
“During the last elections, two of us were elected in the body, joining two others in the body. This means that as a continent, we have a bigger say into the world body,” added Limo.
At the same time, scrabble has been included in the next year’s postponed Africa Games set to be held in March in Accra, Ghana.
Limo said that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) approved Scrabble as a Demonstration Sport. LOC approved a proposal made in the last-minute by the leadership of the Pan African Scrabble Association, PANASA during the African Youth Scrabble Cup in May.
The approval by the Games LOC covers both French and English Scrabble, which implies that all African countries playing the respective major languages of the game can participate.
“Scrabble has never been at the Africa Games and the approval means good for the sport. We shall demonstrate or showcase the sport, play in a competitive game with no prize money.
The approval was good for the sport with PANASA president Adekoyejo Adegbesan praising the LOC for supporting the sport.
“I want to thank Ghana’s Minister of Sports Mustapha Ussif, Adamu, its Secretary Christie Ashley and the LOC Chairman Ghana 2023, Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare for their contributions to achieve this feat,” said Adegbesan.
He explained that Demonstration sport at the African Games is contested like every other sport but without medals being awarded but the assurance that the continental body will work with corporations to ensure that attractive financial rewards are available to winners.
“After Africa Games, we also want to work hand in hand with the WESPA in a bid to also take the sport to the commonwealth games,” he said.