Meeting on 17 and 18 April 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria, under the chairmanship of ANOCA President, the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, ANOCA, expressed satisfaction with the harmony and serenity that prevail within the great African Olympic family and reasserted its total support for the International Olympic Committee and its leadership.
“Together, by dint of our solidarity and fraternity, through dialogue and consultation, we have succeeded in giving our continental organisation, ANOCA, another dimension, another image, that of progress and modernity,” said the ANOCA President.
AFRICA has, during this tenure, demonstrated its human, educational and social potential. Our Olympafrica Foundation clearly illustrates this, and we are sure that our participation in the Paris Olympic Games will showcase the intrinsic qualities of our athletes.
All ANOCA Executive Committee members condemned the unethical behaviour of some officials, who use disrespectful language to undermine the Solidarity within the International Olympic Movement and its President who, for his part, spares no effort for the good and development of all.
The members undertook to lead African delegations together for the success of the forthcoming African Games in Cairo, the Youth Olympic Games and the Beach Games, while paying the required attention to good governance and the high standard of management befitting of our continental organisation.
ANOCA Executive Committee members strongly urge athletes from all countries of the world who have qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 to participate in compliance with IOC standards. They call on political authorities across the world to uphold the Olympic TRUCE, which is synonymous with peace and respect for the welfare of mankind. They are appealing that children and women be safeguarded by providing them with the necessary protection and food aid. They reassert their willingness to provide the necessary assistance and support to African NOCs in need of such for their development.
They called for a show of international solidarity to support the athletes and the NOC of Sudan.
ANOCA is pleased with the cooperation agreements enteredinto with the International Federations and world organisations for the benefit of athletes and various stakeholders of the African Olympic Movement. It would like to express its gratitude to all IOC members in Africa for their support and the harmony they have skilfully maintained in the interests of the African Olympic Movement, as well as sharing their wealth of experience and knowledge with their peers of the NOCs. Once more, ANOCA expresses its disapproval of the latest decision by World Athletics to offer prize money to gold medallists at the Paris Olympic Games. This decision of the International Federation, albeit sovereign, is repugnant to the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.
ANOCA calls for the neutrality of sport and the nonpoliticisation of its many multidimensional activities. ANOCA further recalls that it was the first to support the participation of all athletes, including those from Russia and Belarus, in the Olympic Games, this in compliance with IOC obligations and pursuant to the Olympic Charter. The ANOCA Executive Committee commends the precious collaboration established with Olympic Solidarity and ongoing consultations that serve the best interests of the African Olympic Movement. The ANOCA Executive Committee confirms that a single edition of the African Games will be held in Egypt in 2027, to be organised jointly by the African Union (AU), the Egyptian government and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
Finally, ANOCA members express their sincere gratitude to the Government of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
