The ANOCA Executive Committee held an extraordinary meeting by videoconference on 27 April 2020, to discuss important issues and particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports and measures to cope with its fallouts. The meeting was chaired by Mustapha Berraf, the Chief Executive of the institution and also concerned, in addition to the statutory members of this body, invited guests that included Commission Chairs, IOC members in Africa, senior officials of Olympic Solidarity and other dignitaries solicited for the occasion.
The meeting dwelled particularly on the current situation of sport in Africa in the era of the Coronavirus. Participants also discussed the Youth Olympic Games billed for Dakar. On this specific item, a presentation was made on progress of preparations for this event. It should be noted that much ground has been covered and that the idea is to have Games with all the sites close to the Village. The collaboration between Dakar 2022 and ANOCA was strongly welcomed during this presentation.
At the end of this fruitful meeting, the ANOCA Secretary-General, Ahmed Abou Elgasim Hashim, read out the following major resolutions:
1. The Executive Committee approves the extension of the “Tokyo 2020” preparation plan to 2021 and authorises the Tokyo 2020 Athletes’ Preparation Commission to monitor its implementation, taking into account the observations of the Executive Committee.
2. The Executive Committee welcomes and expresses its pride in the efforts of the Organising Committee of the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games and gives its full support to ANOCA’s “Dakar 2022 Action Plan” resolution and to the preparation of the Games to the highest standards.
3. The Executive Committee took note of the savings made during the period 2017 to 2019 and the new administrative measures to make further savings in 2020. It also approved the proposed budget readjustments and the use of the balance of the All Africa Games budget for the Athletes’ Preparation Programme and other activities.
4. The Executive Committee applauds the efforts and wisdom of the IOC under the leadership of Dr Thomas Bach in managing the disaster and challenges due to the effects of corona epidemic on world sport. The Executive Committee supports all IOC guidelines and recommendations.
5. The Executive Committee calls on all ANOCA stakeholders and the African Olympic and Sports Movement to become actively involved in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic and to support communities in overcoming the great challenges caused by the epidemic.
6. The Executive Committee decided that the next meeting will be held in January 2021 by videoconference in order to make further substantial savings in ANOCA.
