28 JUNE 1981 — 28 JUNE 2026
- Your Excellencies,
- Honourable IOC Members in Africa,
- Distinguished NOC Presidents,
- Dear athletes,
- Dear Partners of the Olympic Movement,
- Dear friends of African sport,
- Dear Members of the African Olympic and Sports Movement,
Today, 28 June 2026, Olympic Africa celebrates forty-five years of history, commitment and progress.
For forty-five years, ANOCA has been guided by a single ambition: to unite the continent around the values of Olympism and to make sport a catalyst for development, peace, and excellence.
On this day, we have a duty to look back.
On 28 June 1981, in Lomé, a group of visionary men and women established a strong organisation for Africa to defend the interests of the African Olympic Movement and nurture African talent.
To all the founding fathers and mothers, and to all those who devoted their time, intellect and passion to building our Association, we express our deep gratitude. Their legacy endures, reflected in Olympic Africa’s successes over the past forty-five years.
Over these four and a half decades, our athletes have flown our flags high, upholding our values and our dignity. Every African medal won is far more than a sporting achievement; it is an act of sovereignty. A statement to the world that Africa is present, Africa is strong, and Africa is beautiful. To all our champions, we say: you are the pride of our continent.
Highly significant, this 45th anniversary resonates across Africa.
For the first time in its history, the IOC is led by a woman and an African: Her Excellency, Mrs Kirsty COVENTRY. As the first woman and the first African to lead our supreme governing body, she embodies the pride of the entire continent. Her leadership of the IOC is a victory not only for Africa, but for sport, universality, and the values that unite us under the Olympic rings. I take this opportunity to pay a heartfelt tribute to all the women and men of the African Olympic Movement, and to commend the spirit of fraternity, unity and solidarity that drives the great Olympic family under her enlightened leadership.
ANOCA has always been more than an administrative body. Since its inception, it has been an instrument of change. It has evolved over time and now comprises 54 NOCs and seven dynamic development zones.
Our core mission is clear: to make sport a tool for human development, continental unity, excellence, and the promotion of Olympic values. It has never been more relevant.
Through Olympic Solidarity programmes, ANOCA has supported generations of athletes, officials and coaches. Its training, governance, and solidarity initiatives have boosted sports structures in nations that may lack resources but never talent. Africa has talent. What has sometimes been lacking is an enabling environment and this is exactly what ANOCA provides through its member NOCs.
ANOCA supports sports infrastructure development, notably through OlympAfrica Centres, hubs for education, training, and personal development for African youths. These, precisely, are the initiatives we work to strengthen, step by step, year after year.
As we set our sights on the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 – a historic milestone for Africa – I am struck by how ready this generation of athletes is to make history. ANOCA will stand with them, as always, with the same passion, the same exacting standards, and the same unwavering faith in Africa. This is our moment to show the world that Africa has what it takes to host, to inspire and to succeed.
The future of Olympism in Africa is being shaped today – in our schools, in our training centres, on our playing fields, and above all, through the determination of our young people.
Together, we have built a competitive ecosystem to nurture African talent: the African Games, the African Youth Games, the African Beach Games, the School Games and the ANOCA Zone Games. Our goal is simple: to bring our young, talented athletes together and put a smile on their faces.
To the trailblazers of yesterday, hats off! To the leaders of today, we salute you! To the future generation, we pass the relay baton to you! Let’s pursue this great and collective endeavour together – building a united, strong, and triumphant Africa through sport.
Long live ANOCA!
Long live Olympic Africa!
Hon. Mustapha BERRAF
ANOCA President
IOC Member
ANOC Vice President
President of the OlympAfrica Foundation
