The African Games, formerly the Pan African Games, are being held from March 8 to 23 in Ghana. Scheduled for 2023, they were postponed due to a regional deadlock over marketing rights, delays in facility preparation and Ghana’s growing financial crisis. Camilla Swart investigations and teaches major sporting events. We asked her about the potential of the African Games in sports tourism and the pros and cons of hosting them.
What are the African Games?
The African Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, generally one year before the Olympics. It is positioned as a pan-African tournament and belongs to the African Union (AU). Its aim is to highlight sporting prowess in Africa, enhance cultural exchanges and promote solidarity, social cohesion and peace in Africa.
Games last a long time history. The first event was successfully held in 1965 in the Republic of Congo, where 30 countries participated in 10 sports – athletics, basketball, football, tennis, weightlifting, cycling, swimming, handball, volleyball and wrestling.
The African Games in Ghana is only the 13th event because the event is not held every four years. The second event was held in Nigeria in 1973 (36 countries, 12 sports with boxing and judo), followed by Algeria in 1978 (38 countries). The fourth edition took place only in 1987 in Kenya (41 countries, 14 sports).
Since then the games have been held every four years, with an increasing number of countries and sports. 54 countries participate in Ghana’s edition 30 branches. Seven of these are exhibition sports that showcase emerging trends, such as esports (eSports) and mixed martial arts.
Other hosts include Egypt, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Algeria, Mozambique and, most recently, Morocco in 2019.
Who will watch and attend?
Of expected that approximately 5,000 athletes, 3,000 officials, 2,000 volunteers and 1,000 guests will participate in Ghana.
Large-scale events like these generally attract a wide range of spectators, including local residents who want to see top athletes from across Africa compete in their favorite sports.
Spectators from all over the world can watch the competitions and ceremonies. Local and international television networks, radio stations and online streaming platforms are expected to broadcast the matches to a worldwide audience. This will attract a large pool of media workers to Ghana.
GTV Sports PlusGhana’s leading sports channel, is the official broadcast.
What do the studies say about the effect of hosting the event?
They have been Many studies on the triple (economic, social and environmental) impacts of hosting major sporting events such as this. While their findings vary, they suggest that hosting can have both positive and negative effects.
On the positive side, hosting the games can boost tourism, boost economic growth, improve infrastructure and promote national pride and unity. However, there are also potential risks and challenges, including cost overruns, displacement of local communities, environmental concerns and the long-term sustainability of the facilities built for the event.
Monirul Bhuiyan/AFP/Getty Images
Case studies from three African Games – in Morocco, Mozambique and South Africa – serve as examples to provide more detailed information.
Study 1: Morocco
The findings of 2020 case study on Morocco’s hosting of the 2019 African Games highlight the importance of addressing various challenges to enhance the success and long-term benefits of hosting. These include stakeholder engagement, legacy planning, public engagement and impact assessment. The study shows that the impact of the games in Morocco may be moderate.
The headlines of the study are that it was found that there was limited involvement of territorial actors in the organizing process, absence of feasibility studies, low participation in the sites and lack of heritage planning.
Study 2: Mozambique
A 2011 study of Mozambique’s Pan-African Games that same year found that, overall, hosting brought a mix of excitement for new sports facilities and challenges for local vendors. The study highlights the complexity and potential impacts of mega-events on urban areas and marginalized communities.
The main findings were that urban development for toys led to the displacement of many vendors and traders from their profitable locations. The urban poor were not properly considered in city image-making strategies. Still, some expressed hope that the development would improve their lives in the long run. However, the actual results and benefits remain uncertain.
Study 3: South Africa
A 2014 study on South Africa’s hosting of the Pan African Games in 1999 focused on the development of infrastructure in Johannesburg, because the legacy of the event was mainly focused on the development of the athletes’ village in the municipality of Alexandra (a black urban area created by the separate development policies of the previous policy of racial segregation condition).
The main findings were that despite significant investment, the village did not lead to substantial improvements in Alexandra’s overall deprivation. The economic legacy of the games in Johannesburg was largely forgotten 15 years later.
Will it be worth it for Ghana?
Studies show that the negatives can easily outweigh the positives of hosting the games. But whether hosting is going to be worthwhile for Ghana will require a comprehensive analysis of all the necessary data in hindsight.
While excitement is building and the organizing committee underlines the country’s readiness, there are concerns mentionted on logistical issues, some facility issues and the lack of name athletes competing. Many in Ghana are reportedly also skeptical for the country paying for a mega-event while going through a financial crisis.
Read more: Morocco’s superb year in football – what’s behind their success on and off the pitch
Ultimately a pan-African event has many positives for the continent. If the display of Ghana’s rich culture and warm hospitality is combined with a high level of organization and competition, then the games will surely excite the spectators.
However, an important caution from previous studies is that the hosting of a major event such as this should be fully integrated into the development strategies of the host country.