Accra, the capital of Ghana, became the epicenter of African athletic prowess 13th African Games unfolded on March 8. Chairman Nana Akufo-AddoThe warm welcome of athletes from 54 African nations symbolized the spirit of unity and competition that defines this prestigious multi-sport event.
Despite a year’s delay, the event came to life with a grandeur befitting its status as the premier multi-sport event in Africa. With a budget ranging between USD 195–250 millionGhana spared no expense to ensure a memorable and successful tournament that captivated audiences around the world.
The Games serve as a vital platform for both amateur and aspiring professional athletes to showcase their talent. In addition, they have played a key role in strengthening it development of modern sports infrastructure across the African continent, with success stories in nations such as Morocco and South Africa.
Over 5,000 athletes from the 54 African countries took part in 29 different sports in the events held from 8 to 24 March. The Games also served as a qualifying avenue for badminton, cycling, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling for African athletes competing in Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
@tv3gh_official Highlights of the 13th Africa Cup of Nations football finals at the Accra Sports Stadium. #3Xtra ♬ Original Audio – TV3 Ghana
Evolution of African Games
The African Games have a rich history dating back to inaugural edition in 1965. This event was held in Brazzaville, Congo 2,500 athletes from 30 African states competing in what would become a continental multi-sport spectacle.
Despite the ongoing challenges arising from civil strife and logistical complexity between 1969 and 1987, the Games persisted, maintaining their four-year cycle. Originally called the All Africa Games, they were renamed to African Games in 2015; The event had special significance in Brazzaville that same year, marking its golden anniversary.
engagement of the African Union
In August 2018, the African Union signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Association of African National Olympic Committees (ANOCA), the body entrusted with the organization and management of the African Games in partnership with the Association of African Sports Confederations.
The MOA described the goals of the Games as “to improve the quality and competitiveness of the African Games and the participating athletes … to improve revenue, sponsorship and marketing of the Games”. In addition, the Games will be used as “preparatory and qualifying for the Olympic Games and other international competitions.”
The AU Commission also hoped to promote harmony and synergies of action within the African sports movement by ensuring that the Games are “the arena for the best athletes on the continent — as a symbol of unity and cooperation. Under the auspices of the African Union Sports Council Secretariat, the African Union supported Ghana’s bid to host the Games, naming 2024 as “Africa Year of Sports Excellence.”
Fertile ground for winners
Acting as a springboard for future champions, the Games have given budding athletes a glimpse of the world stage and all it entails.
For example, Cameroonian track and field athlete Françoise Mbango Etone won her first gold medal at 1999 African Games in Johannesburg, South Africa. He then won two Olympic gold medals, breaking one Record and in the women’s triple jump. South African swimmer Chad Le Clos he was 19 when he competed in the 2011 African Games in Maputo, Mozambique, winning five gold medals in the event. A year later, she secured a gold medal in the 200m butterfly at the London Olympics in 2012. She went on to a brilliant career winning 16 gold medals at the World Championships, seven golds at the Commonwealth Games and silvers in other tournaments. Julius Yego of Kenya won his first major gold medal at the African Games in Maputo in 2011 in the javelin category. “Mr. YouTube‘, as he is popularly known, was able to use the Games to launch one of the most successful non-running careers from Kenya and Africa to create a African record.
Like Mbango, Le Clos and Yego above, many African athletes have gone from obscurity to greatness after developing skills and gaining experience at the African Games, and this year’s Games was no exception.
The Games also made their debut cricket and mixed martial artswith the latter acting as a demonstration sport. This means no medals were won as mixed martial arts looks set to be included in future Olympics.
Public perceptions of this year’s edition
The African Games that just concluded in Accra, Ghana were not without obstacles. Postponed from September 2023 to March 2024 due to a marketing rights dispute, the event faced additional challenges amid Ghana’s economic struggles, characterized by rising inflation rates and currency devaluation. Ghana’s economy is performing poorly, with inflation hitting a a high of 40 percent In 2023, and currently hovers at the 20th percentile, while the Ghanaian cedi took a huge hit this March, draining the country’s foreign exchange reserves, and it was declared the “the third worst performing currency in Africa” from Bloomberg Africa. High inflation affected food prices and the associated costs of the Games. The huge expenses and the state of the economy have seen critics question whether the Games were worth hosting.
Criticism from some quarters, including the former President of Ghana John Mahama, highlights the complexities and nuances surrounding hosting such large-scale events in the face of financial challenges. Ghanaian economist Daniel Anem Ameteye noted that the Games came on wrong time, saying, “… [I]It would not be wise to host the Games.”
Some journalists and experts also shared their feelings on X (formerly Twitter). Muftau Nabila, a sportswriter and media consultant, said:
“This is not the first time we are hosting major events like this,” said Ghanaian sports journalist Muftawu Abdulai.
“Maintenance has always been our problem.
“If we can maintain these facilities, then the benefits will really flow to Ghanaian sports.”
— Muftawu Nabila Abdulai (@Muftawu_Nabila) March 14, 2024
Gary Al-Smith wrote a long post summarizing the challenges, wins and missed opportunities of the Games:
I loved covering it #AfricanGames a little too much.
From being part of Team Negative Stories to watching athletes perform incredible feats of physical prowess, it was fun. I would like to shout out the Five Heroes of the #AfricanGames2023.
🏅 The people… pic.twitter.com/juEkdDzj9G
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) March 25, 2024
Despite the obstacles faced, the Games in Accra stood as a beacon of African sporting excellence and a reminder of the continent’s unwavering commitment to nurturing talent and promoting unity through sport.