Participants competed in a range of activities including football, chess, tennis, table tennis, volleyball and badminton, with teams comprising diplomats and staff of foreign missions.
In one of the standout matches, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ football team defeated a combined side of UNICEF and other international community members 3–1, drawing cheers from spectators and fellow diplomats.
The chess tournament, which attracted strong participation, saw Indonesia’s Kurniawan Sagala emerge as champion after a series of closely contested rounds.
Britain’s David Prince finished second, while Attlee Tobin Wales of the UK High Commission secured third place.
In another category played under a non-Olympic format, Laroslav of the Russian Embassy clinched first position, with Maksim Kerdzialevich, First Secretary at the Embassy of Belarus, finishing second.
Mahmudin of the Indonesian Embassy took third place.
Volleyball action featured mixed teams drawn from multiple countries, underscoring the spirit of collaboration.
A combined team of players from Cuba, Indonesia, Colombia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs defeated a rival side comprising participants from Indonesia, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, UNICEF and the Islamic Development Bank.
In badminton, representatives of the Chinese Embassy outperformed their counterparts from UNICEF to claim top honours.
The tennis event, played in doubles format, featured a high-profile pairing of Ambassador Wahab Akande, Nigeria’s Chief of Protocol and Ambassador-designate to Switzerland, alongside Dong Hairong of the Chinese Embassy.
They competed against a team made up of UNICEF’s Osagbemworhue Igbinadolor and Ge Yali, also of the Chinese Embassy, in a match that drew significant attention.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Akande, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs, praised the initiative for promoting informal engagement among diplomats.
He noted that diplomacy often involves high-pressure negotiations and constant advocacy for national interests, but events like the Diplomatic Games Week provide a rare opportunity to build friendships and strengthen mutual understanding in a relaxed setting.
According to him, the enthusiasm among participants has been so strong that many are already advocating for more frequent editions of the games.
Also speaking, Sòókò Deji Ajomale-McWord, publisher of Globalafri Diplomat magazine and organiser of the event, said the initiative was designed to advance peace and prosperity through sports.
“The Diplomatic Games Week has evolved significantly since its inception, expanding from a single golf tournament into a multi-sport event to encourage wider participation across the diplomatic community,” he explained.
Ajomale-McWord added that the absence of golf in this year’s edition was deliberate, as organisers are prioritising preparations for the upcoming 3rd Annual Trade Relations Cup, a sports diplomacy initiative focused on the international trade community, scheduled for June.
He expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic community for their support, noting that the success of the eighth edition has set the stage for an even more impactful outing next year.