The event was awarded to Sal island on the Atlantic archipelago at the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa General Assembly in Djibouti in May 2017.

Júlio Lopes, Mayor of Sal, participated in the countdown event to highlight his support of the Games.

He said the City Council were backing the Games which he believes will prove important in continuing the development of the island and Cape Verde as a whole.

The event featured a variety of sport competitions and entertainment.

A total of 150 students from Olavo Moniz Secondary School and the Santa Maria Educational Complex took part in activities.

This included beach handball, beach volleyball, beach tennis and beach soccer.

Freestyle football, karate kata and athletics were also included.

The events were billed as giving the residents of Sal a taste of what will be taking place at the Games next June.

It was hoped the six month countdown event would also help to create excitement around the Games.

In addition to the sport, a live performance by the band Salt 4 and a set by DJ Sandir also took place.

Kretxeu, the Sal 2019 mascot, took photos with the athletes and members of the public.

The mascot is a loggerhead turtle, which organisers say Cape Verde is famous for, and has recently been protected by law.

The Games are set to take place from June 14 to 23.

The sport programme includes freestyle frisbee while taekwondo will be making a first major appearance at a regional beach sport event.

Five surfing disciplines - stand-up paddle, kitesurf freestyle, surf, bodyboarding and windsurfing - are also included in a programme which prioritises events actually taking place on water and sand more than at the Asian Beach Games.

Beach versions of handball, volleyball, tennis, freestyle football and 3x3 basketball are also included.

These are joined by rowing, canoeing, marathon swimming, finswimming and pétanque.