In a festive and solemn ambiance, the 4th African Youth Games officially kicked off in Luanda, Angola, and will run until 20 December 2025. This grand African sport celebration brings together young people from 54 countries across the continent, fostering the spirit of mutual respect and personal achievement.
The opening ceremony, held on 13 December at the 11 November Stadium in Luanda, was attended by the cream of African sport leaders, official representatives from across the continent, 2,025 young athletes aged 14 to 17, technical officials and volunteers.
A highly colourful event, African fraternity in action
The opening ceremony was a memorable show for the packed 11 November Stadium in Luanda. The evening’s highlight was the parade of 54 African delegations through the iconic stadium, with young athletes marching in national attire, proudly bearing their flags. The electric atmosphere was filled with emotion and continental pride, epitomising the Games’ spirit: unity in diversity. Each delegation received a warm welcome from the Angolan crowd, creating a moment of shared joy, in song and dance, celebrating Africa’s cultural diversity and vibrant youths.
The ceremony also featured artistic performances highlighting Angolan and African cultural heritage, before the symbolic lighting of the Olympic flame, which officially marked the start of the competition.
Strong message to African youths
The Minister for Youth and Sport delivered an address focusing on the core values that drive these Games. He emphasised that sport remains one of the most powerful languages for unity and dialogue among peoples in a world facing complex challenges.
Addressing the young athletes directly, the Minister urged them to compete with courage and fair play, reminding them that each event represents an opportunity for personal growth. He highlighted the approach adopted by Angola from day one: to guarantee dignified, safe and fair conditions for every participant, placing human beings at the centre of concerns.
The Minister also expressed his gratitude to the referees, technical officials and volunteers, whose discreet but fundamental work ensures the credibility and fairness of the competition. He concluded by saying that these Games are a demonstration of Africa’s collective ability to organise, cooperate and believe in its youths as a driving force for development.
ANOCA hails the Angolan people
ANOCA President, the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, paid a glowing tribute to the Angolan people and their leaders. He expressed his deep gratitude to His Excellency President João Lourenço and the Angolan authorities for their unrelenting commitment to serving African youths.
President Berraf hailed Angola’s legendary hospitality and its role in restoring African pride, evoking the indomitable fighting spirit and proud heritage of African warriors that Angola embodies today.
The ANOCA President particularly highlighted the unity and solidarity among the young champions, brought together by their shared passion for sport. He urged the athletes to compete with self-respect, respect for the opponent, for one another and the fundamental values of African Olympism.
Highlighting African unity
The 4th African Youth Games are continuing the tradition of an event that has become a fixture on the continental sports calendar. They offer an ideal platform for budding African talents to compete in a spirit of fraternity and sporting excellence.
The event has brought together 2,025 young athletes in around 21 sports, ranging from athletics to 3×3 basketball, swimming, judo, boxing and even traditional African games. These Games will also serve as qualifiers for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, reinforcing their strategic importance for sport development in Africa.
Angola, the first Portuguese-speaking country to host this event, is honouring the continent by welcoming young people from all corners of Africa. The organisation coincides with the celebration of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence, giving these Games a special historical dimension.
The motto of these Games, “Youth on the Move, Africa United,” perfectly sums up the goal of this event: to build a better future for the continent through sport and Olympic values.
