Manama, Bahrain, 22 October 2025
Guided by a shared vision of intercontinental solidarity, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) officially renewed their cooperation agreement on Wednesday, 22 October 2022 in Manama, Bahrain. The renewed Memorandum of Understanding, spanning 2024-2032, strengthens the partnership commitments of both bodies in sports development, education and innovation, while ushering in a new era of collaboration with the incorporation of artificial intelligence-driven projects.
The signing ceremony, which was attended by many prominent figures from the African and Asian Olympic Movements, was presided at by ANOCA President and IOC Member, the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, and OCA Interim President who doubles as First Vice President, Timothy Fok. It affords an opportunity to reaffirm the shared values that unite the two continents through sport.
A partnership rooted in history
“The partnership between our two continents is as old as humanity itself. Sport, which has also existed since the dawn of time, unites us through a collective experience,” said the Honourable Mustapha Berraf, praising the human and universal dimension of the collaboration between Asia and Africa.
OCA is one of the most dynamic structures within the global Olympic Movement, representing 45 countries on the Asian continent.
Established in 1981, ANOCA brings together 54 African National Olympic Committees, divided into seven development zones, and works to promote the emergence of a modern, fair and value-driven African sport.
Common goals for a shared future
This renewed partnership comes at a time when sport needs to adapt to the major upheavals of the 21st century. The thrust areas of this new cooperation include:
- Training sports executives and leaders through joint seminars, internships and skills exchanges between the two continents;
- Sports infrastructure development in Africa, drawing inspiration from Asian management, technological innovation and sustainability models;
- Enhanced preparation of African and Asian athletes for major international competitions, with particular focus on the Olympic Games and Intercontinental Games;
- Incorporating digital technologies and artificial intelligence into talent identification, performance monitoring and sports governance.
“This wonderful partnership will help us to better train our senior managers and prepare our athletes to face the major challenges ahead,” the Honourable Mustapha Berraf furthered.
Strategic solidarity in addressing global challenges
In this era of rapid social change, sport is emerging as an essential vehicle for peace, education and social inclusion. The ACNOA-OCA partnership is therefore intended to be a laboratory for South-South collaboration, at the forefront of new solutions adapted to the realities of developing countries.
Welcoming the renewed the agreement, Mr Timothy Fok reaffirmed OCA’s commitment to sustain this momentum: “Africa and Asia share the values of fraternity, resilience and innovation. Together, we can build strong bridges between our respective youth and pave the way for a new sporting humanism.”
A future focused on youth and peace
The renewed partnership will also build on joint ongoing initiatives, notably the African Youth Games, the Asian Games, educational forums, and digital platforms promoting youth participation and gender equality.
At a time when sport is emerging as a strategic lever for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ANOCA and OCA want to lead by example with concrete action, particularly with respect to environmental responsibility, good governance and sports diplomacy.
Shared vision
In conclusion, the ANOCA President made a passionate appeal to the youth of Africa and Asia: “This initiative gives us stronger hope for the future, that our upcoming generations can face the great upheavals of our century.”
Already marked by decades of achievements, the fruitful ANOCA-OCA partnership is thus turning a new page dedicated to innovation, active cooperation and excellence, in the purest Olympic tradition.
