In Juba on Thursday, the South Sudan National Olympics Committee hosted a funfair to kick off the countdown to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris the next month.

Juma Stephen, the president of the South Sudan National Olympics Committee, announced that the nation would send competitive teams to France competing in a variety of sports. He revealed that the sports included basketball, athletics, and taekwon-do.

Juma thanked all the federations getting ready to compete in the Olympics in Paris and emphasised that South Sudan has talent that can change the game in sports.

He noted that after the basketball federation completed their selection process, the final national team to travel to Paris would be revealed. Twelve players will be chosen from the existing 50-man roster for the basketball team.

Joseph Gieng Akec, the minister of youth and sports, reiterated his support for the numerous national teams competing in the Olympics. He gave the basketball team praise for qualifying after three years of gruelling practice.

The minister urged South Sudanese athletes to uphold the country’s positive reputation and to “build friendship and extend our culture to the rest of the world.”