Abuja, 28 April 2025 – The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) today held a virtual Extraordinary General Assembly devoted to the preparations for the maiden African School Games in Algeria (26 July – 5 August 2025) and the 4th African Youth Games in Angola (10-20 December 2025). This strategic meeting, chaired by ANOCA President, the Honourable Mustapha BERRAF, brought together 76 participants representing the African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and various stakeholders in the continental Olympic Movement.
A pan-African commitment to the future of youth sport
The session, dubbed ‘The African Games of the Future’, provided an opportunity to harmonise preparations and ensure optimum coordination among all stakeholders involved in the organisation of these two major continental sports events. Discussions centred on logistical, technical and organisational arrangements, with the shared ambition of making these games excellence platforms for budding sports talent identification and promotion in Africa.
The ANOCA President reminded attendees that school sport is the cradle of the development of our young athletes who will be called upon to become the authentic champions of the future. He urged the entire African Olympic family to step up efforts to scale down the talent drain to other climes that offer them the necessary conditions to improve their living environment.
Our champion, Paul Tergat, also lauded the initiative and paid tribute to the President and his team for ANOCA’s new vision for the future.
In his opening remarks, President Mustapha BERRAF had this to say:
“My dear friends,
Honourable Members of the General Assembly of our venerable institution,
Distinguished guests,
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for heeding our invitation to hold this important meeting. Today’s Extraordinary General Assembly is holding on the theme “The African Games of the Future”.
We will discuss your presence and communication on your participation in the African School Games and the African Youth Games and the prospects for our identified future budding talents.
We are honoured and delighted to have our colleagues from the Games Organising Committee and senior school sports officials with us today. They will provide us with some insights into the many challenges that lie ahead. We will also be delighted to have with us Mr Balázs Major, Director of Hungary’s National Event Delivery Agency. He will also be giving us some insights into the creation of the skateboard and BMX platforms that will be used to prepare our young athletes for participation in these new Olympic sports.
Allow me, in all humility, to conclude by renewing our deep gratitude to Mr Thomas BACH and his team for the invaluable support he has always given us, and also to express our immense pride that our own Olympic Champion, Ms Kirsty Coventry, is IOC President.
I wish us every success in our deliberations and I thank you for your kind attention.
We are most gratified by your presence. Yours sincerely.’’
Preparations for the Maiden African School Games Algeria 2025
With regard to the first-ever African School Games to hold in Algeria from 26 July to 5 August 2025, the Assembly announced that the Chefs de Mission meeting is scheduled for 19 and 20 May 2025. To date, 48 NOCs have already confirmed their participation in this preparatory meeting, demonstrating the enthusiasm generated by this new continental school sports competition.
The representative of the Organising Committee of the African School Games provided further details on logistical arrangements, in particular how the delegations will be managed and the transportation arrangements that will be put in place. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions and their concerns were addressed on all the organisational aspects of these inaugural games.
Aïcha Garad, the revered IOC member, emphasised the need to follow up African youths and draw up clear youth development plans, stressing that African Youths are our STRENGTH and the future of our Continent. She also thanked Algeria for its efforts and resources, and congratulated ANOCA on its outstanding projects.
The Assembly expressed deep gratitude to the Algerian people and to His Excellency the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for their unwavering commitment to sport development in Africa and their unfailing support for the continent’s youths.
4th African Youth Games Angola 2025
Pertaining to the 4th African Youth Games billed for Angola from 10 to 20 December 2025, the Assembly scheduled the Chef de Mission meeting for September 2025. This meeting will provide an opportunity to finalise preparations and fine-tune coordination between the Organising Committee and the participating delegations.
Participants unanimously commended the dedication and enthusiasm of the Angolan people, and expressed their sincere thanks to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, for his pivotal support in organising this major event for young African athletes.
International cooperation and new Olympic sports
One of the highlights of the Assembly was when Mr Balázs Major, Director of Hungary’s National Event Delivery Agency, took the floor to present the plans for the Skateboard and BMX platforms, disciplines recently included in the Olympic programme. Such infrastructure will play a crucial role in preparing young African athletes for these new disciplines.
Renewed commitment
The Presidents of the NOCs of Algeria and Angola took the floor to answer questions from participants and explain the various measures taken to ensure the success of both competitions.
While closing this extraordinary session, President Mustapha BERRAF heartily thanked all the participants for their constructive contributions and their commitment to youth sport development in Africa. He reasserted ANOCA’s resolve to make these Games exemplary events that will mark a turning point in the history of African sport.
“WE ARE ALL PRODUCTS OF SCHOOL SPORT; LET’S HELP TODAY’S CHILDREN THROUGH SPORT, JUST AS OUR ELDERS DID WITH US. LET’S HELP THEM TO BECOME ACCOMPLISHED MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE RESOLUTELY FOCUSED ON MODERNITY AND SOLIDARITY,” Mustapha BERRAF insisted, as he concluded this important meeting, which was a resounding success.
ANOCA is delighted with the unprecedented level of mobilisation of the African NOCs around both events and expresses its conviction that the African School Games in Algeria and the African Youth Games Angola 2025 will be ideal platforms for celebrating the excellence, solidarity and unity of Africa’s youth.
