18 December 2024: the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) officially signed a hosting agreement with the Angolan government and the Angola Olympic Committee (COA) for the Fourth African Youth Games billed for December 2025 in Angola. This major event will bring together budding talents from across the continent around the values of excellence, inclusion and solidarity.
Unwavering commitment to sport development in Africa.
During the signing ceremony, ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf underscored the importance of the African Youth Games as a showcase for the sporting potential of Africa’s youth:
“The African Youth Games are the biggest sports event for our young people. They are not just a competition, but also a unique platform to inspire, educate and promote Olympic values across the continent.”
The ANOCA delegation, led by President Berraf, also comprised the First Vice President of ANOCA João da Costa Alegre Afonso, and ANOCA Executive Board member who doubles as ANOCA Zone VI President, Alfred Foloko. On the Angolan side, the delegation was led by COA President, Gustavo Dias Vaz da Conceição. This synergy testifies to the importance attached to the event by the various stakeholders and their commitment to the success of this continental event.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony, the ANOCA President led the officials on a tour of several sports facilities, including the new NOC headquarters currently under construction and the Olympafrica Centre. These facilities bear witness to the efforts made by Angola to work for the success of the African Youth Games. During the tours, Minister Rui Falcão emphasised that these modern infrastructure will help the country to meet the needs of the athletes, while giving Angola greater exposure internationally. Besides, the tours highlighted the significant progress of ongoing projects, such as the Kilamba Multisports Pavilion and the 11 November Stadium, which will play a key role during the event.
Strategic partnership for Angolan sport
The agreement of commits the parties to working together to:
- Ensuring exemplary organisation of the 2025 African Youth Games.
- Providing modern and accessible infrastructure.
- Promoting the values of Olympism among young Africans.
- Building local capacities through training and collaboration programmes.
Youth and Sports Minister, Rui Falcão, assured the audience that the financial conditions necessary for the organisation of the Games have been met, thanks to the General State Budget, as part of celebrations marking 50 years of Angola’s independence. “Angola has been working for some time to ensure the success of this event, both from an organisational and sporting point of view, using existing infrastructure,” he said. He also added that other African competitions will be organised ahead of the event to test the facilities and offer local athletes the opportunity to better prepare. The competitions will also serve as a showcase for Angola as a continental sports hub.
Showcasing African talent
The Games will bring together thousands of young athletes from the 54 African countries to compete in some twenty sports disciplines. As host country, Angola will have the opportunity to showcase its national talent, while highlighting its infrastructure and commitment to sport. The disciplines will include aquatic, team and individual sports, offering a complete panorama of the continent’s athletic skills.
The country will, in the build-up to the event, host a number of African competitions that will serve as a trial run, to test the sports facilities and prepare the athletes. These events will not only ensure that all infrastructure meet international standards, but will also promote cultural and sports exchange among African nations. In addition, these initiatives will help to strengthen regional sports cooperation by involving international federations in the supervision of competitions.
“These Games afford a unique opportunity to reveal African talent and prepare our young people to excel on the continental and world stages,” said Mustapha Berraf.
The role of the African Youth Games as a springboard towards more prestigious international competitions, such as the Olympic Games Dakar 2026, was also highlighted. The Games will also help to raise awareness of the Olympic values among young people, as well as the importance of respect, friendship and excellence in all spheres of their lives.
Prestigious distinction for the Angolan President
During the event, ANOCA awarded the medal of the ‘Order of Merit’ to the President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, in recognition of his commitment to sport promotion and development in Angola. This distinction, a first for an Angolan President, reflects the significant investments made in the renovation of sports infrastructure and the organisation of international competitions.
The President of the Angola Olympic Committee, Gustavo da Conceição, stressed that the award followed the evaluation carried out by the ANOCA General Assembly during the Olympic Games Paris 2024. He also noted that it illustrates the quality of Angola’s sports diplomacy and the country’s commitment to African sport. Furthermore, it also demonstrates the lasting impact of the President’s initiatives on youth and sport development on the continent.
Open door to the future
The Fourth African Youth Games will be part of commemorative activities of the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence, and will thus be highly symbolic for the country. They will also serve as a springboard for the Youth Olympic Games scheduled for 2026 in Dakar, Senegal, enabling young athletes to qualify and prepare in a high-level, highly competitive environment.
With this agreement, ANOCA reasserts its central role in sport development in Africa and its commitment to supporting host countries in the organisation of international sports events. The ANOCA-Angola cooperation marks a significant milestone in the history of African sport, paving the way for a new era of excellence for the younger generations. This strategic partnership also highlights the importance of investing in infrastructure, training and preparing young African athletes for future international competitions.
