Lubango - More than 12,000 athletes in various sports from southern Huila province are since Friday participating in the “3rd Open Games” declared open in Lubango city by the provincial governor, Isaac dos Anjos.

 
The games are taking place at Tundavala stadium and in the “Nossa Senhora do Monte” multi-purpose pavilion and are part of the 26th edition of the celebrations of Lubango city Patron Saint.

 
Football, rhythmic gymnastics, basketball, normal and adapted athletics, chess, volleyball, table and field tennis are the sports on  the agenda, with the participation of students from Huila province’s 14 municipalities.

 
Speaking to Angop, the provincial director of Sports in Huila, Francisco Barros, said the purpose of the games is to prepare and spread the various sports in the region.

 
Francisco Barros explained that the games are also part of Government’s “Despontar” project that has so far trained 20,000 athletes in various sports.