ANOCA president highlights ‘talent pool’ of young people to mark Africa Day
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) President Mustapha Berraf has highlighted the untapped potential of the continent’s youngsters and said it was a “requirement” to help them thrive.
The Algerian official made youth the theme of a message he has released to mark the celebration of Africa Day today.
“African youths are the future and guiding them is thus a requirement,” Berraf said.
“More than 550 million African youths are under the age of 18, offering a talent pool of youths that must thrive in order to contribute to Africa’s development.
“Aware of this, we must together find the necessary chemistry to ensure that, through sport, African youths can consolidate gains in peace and actively engage in fostering the spirit of peace to pacify our continent and ensure it develops on all fronts.”
Berraf, who released a similar message on Africa Day last year, claimed the continent must be a “haven of peace” and that pursuing excellence in sport could give a “major boost” to this vision.
“Africa, our Africa, must always be in the limelight because the whole world is watching us and we too must make our mark on it,” he said.
“African National Olympic Committees will joyously be celebrating the African continent through sport, which fosters and upholds the values of love, sharing and solidarity.”
Held annually on May 25, Africa Day celebrates the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity - now the African Union - in 1963.
Berraf also highlighted the 30 days to go milestone until the second edition of the African Beach Games in Hammamet in Tunisia.
The event is due to take place from June 23 to 30.
“Thirty days away from one of Africa’s major sports events, which will bring together more than 1,000 athletes and thousands of spectators from the four corners of the continent and the world at large,” Berraf said.
“The countdown to the final lap of Hammamet 2023 began yesterday.” - Inside the