With the theme ‘Live the African Dream’ the 13th African Games kicked off with a spectacular official opening to showcase the African continent’s unique cultural heritage, sporting talents and diversity at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in the capital Accra . city of the Republic of Ghana. The significance of the site was described as the land of Kwame Nkrumah, the cradle of Pan-Africanism.
The Games, organized in partnership with the Association of African National Olympic Committees (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC) following a negotiated agreement signed in February 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, honored during the ceremony opening Nana Akufo Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; and Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) at the African Union Commission, among others.
Nana Addo Dankwa- Akufo Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana and the host of the African Games, has provided outstanding leadership and personal commitment to ensure that Ghana delivers a successful edition of the African Games. The enormous political, economic and material investment that Ghana has developed shows yet another proof of unwavering commitment to the ideals of African unity. More importantly, the African Games is also an opportunity to highlight the values of fair play, equality, discipline, inclusion, perseverance, tolerance and teamwork. These are considered invaluable keys to building character and peaceful societies.
Throughout history, African athletes have performed reliably in international sporting events. For example, Rugby World Cup Paris 2023, FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, World Athletics Championships in Budapest and many more. These demonstrate sportsmanship and inspire the next generation. Sports is a powerful platform for human connection.
History of the African Games: The historical roots of the African Games go back to a General Assembly of African Ministers of Youth and Sports in Dakar, Senegal, in 1963, which led to the inaugural event in Brazzaville, Congo, in 1965. The success of these games led to the creation of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), which was recognized by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) as the official coordinating body for continental sports. In 2013, the SCSA was disbanded, transferring all functions to the African Union Commission, and in 2016, the African Union Sports Council Secretariat was established to further develop sports and coordinate the African Games.
About the African Games: The African Games, owned by the African Union and coordinated by the AU Sports Council, are held every four years, acting as a precursor to the Olympic Games. They act as a celebration of sporting excellence, African cultural heritage and unity. The event plays a central role in promoting youth education, gender equality and social cohesion, aligning with Agenda 2063’s aspirations for the ‘Africa we want’.
The Games were established to promote high performance sporting and cultural exchanges between African Union member states. Held every four years, these games adhere to the rules set by the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports (STC-YCS). The African Union Sports Council’s Technical Committee for the African Games oversees the evaluation of host bids and the overall organization by the locals.
Organizational efforts for the 2024 Games include collaboration between the Association of African National Olympic Committees (ANOCA) and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC). This partnership, created through an agreement signed in February 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, underlines the collective commitment to the successful execution of the 13th Edition of the African Games.
About the 13th African Games: The 13th African Games 2024, to be hosted in Accra, Ghana, represents a landmark occasion as it marks the first time the nation will host this prestigious continental sporting event. Over 15 days, the event will be attended by more than 5,000 athletes from across Africa, highlighting the country’s ability to host major events.
This year’s games will feature more than 5,000 athletes competing in 29 sports, including eight that will serve as qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The cities of Accra and Cape Coast will host the events from March 8 to 23, 2024. .The matches will span sports codes such as Arm-Wrestling, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball (3×3) and several others, which will be held at venues such as the Accra Sports Stadium and the University of Ghana Stadium.
According to the African Union, which represents over 60% of Africa’s population, healthy and well-educated young Africans are the continent’s best vehicle to transform Africa. Investing in sport is therefore one of the best ways to implement the AU’s Agenda 2063.