Burundi and DRC basketball athletes played in the same team at the Friendship Games ©Peace and Sport

Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) basketball athletes played in the same team for the first time at the three-day Friendship Games.

The event, organised by Peace and Sport, is aimed at promoting dialogue and multicultural exchange in the Great Lakes region.

Burundi, the DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are countries included in the region.

This year’s Games took place in Burundi’s capital city Bujumbura and the city of Uvira in DRC.

Congolese Prime Minister Bruno Tshibala and Sport Minister Papy Nyango were among those present, along with  Burundi Presidential special advisor Jean-Jacques Nyenimigabo and Bujumbura’s Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa.

During the Opening Ceremony, mixed Burundi and RDC basketball teams played a friendly match.

Peace and Sport founder Joel Bouzou claimed the match was an extraordinary demonstration of trans-border cooperation and sport diplomacy.

"It is a gesture for peace and dialogue in the region," he said.

"The Friendship Games are a good step to promote multicultural exchange between youngsters and a great opportunity to international sport federations and high-level athletes to endorse the power of sport for positive change."

Boys and girls between the ages of 16 and 17 competed in the mixed teams in Uvira.

It is claimed to be one of the most-affected provinces by population movement in DRC.

Young people from five community centres located in Burundi, Rwanda and the DRC participated in the Friendship Games.

The Burundi National Olympic Committee, Peace and Sport Champions for Peace and eight international federations supported the Games during the three-day event.

The Internationale Teqball Federation, the International Basketball Foundation, the International Judo Federation and the International Table Soccer Federation were among those supporting the event.

They were joined by the World Baseball Softball Confederation, the World Dodgeball Association, the World Karate Federation and World Rugby.

The Games also featured sport seminars, capacity building and "peace-building workshops".

Competitors featured in 12 disciplines, which were designed to promote positive values and Peace and Sport's "Sport Simple" methodology.