Prominent among the many supporters of the candidature of the current IOC President is ANOCA President and thus all of Africa. Mustapha Berraf hailed Dr Thomas Bach’s vision and actions, which will have to continue if he is re-elected. The ANOCA President especially lauded the President for his management of the coronavirus pandemic. In a joint declaration, African Olympic Movement actors noted that Africa is satisfied with the actions and policy promoted by Dr Thomas Bach since his election at the helm of the Governing Body of the Olympic Movement on 10 September 2013. His contribution to the development of African sport is an indelible mark of his commitment to a continent that believes in itself and its capacity to build a reliable, lasting and prosperous Olympic universe for Africa and the world. The African Olympic Movement officials further noted that in 2026, Africa will for the first time host the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. According to them, this is a major event to be written in golden letters in the relationship that Africa has entertained with the tenure of Dr Thomas Bach. They deemed it an honour for Africa, and thus urged all the continent’s sports, Olympic, cultural or political actors to act in solidarity and work relentlessly as one man to support Dr Thomas Bach. His presence at the helm of the International Olympic Committee is a driving force for our desire to make Africa the cradle of Sport and hence of Olympism.
