African Sports Convention Ends with Awards, Hall of Fame Inductions

(ATR) Ouagadougou, Burkina Fasowill host the next annual International Convention for Sport in Africa, CISA.

The capital beat out two other contenders at a Friday night gala during this year's two-day conference in Bamako, Mali.

At the gala, CISA also announced Hall of Fame inductees including swimmer Penelope Heyns of South Africa, Congolese footballer Francois Mpele and Algerian football coach Rabah Saadane for the technician category as well as Lassana Palenfo of Cote d'Ivoire as a sports administrator.

Former footballer Salif Keita of Mali and basketball administrator Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal, both 2011 inductees, also received trophies since they did not attend CISA last year.

Conference organizers also handed out JAPPO awards, which recognize individuals or organizations for promoting sport in Africa.

Both South Africa and the NationalOlympic Committee of Mali earned the award for sport development. John Steven Akwari of Tanzania also received a JAPPO award.

More than 100 delegates attended the conference to listen to discussions on the role of technology in sport and the development of sport in Africa as a whole.

Anumber of IOC officials gathered in Mali for the event including Patrick Chamunda of Zambia, Irena Szewinzka of Poland and Claudia Bokel from Germany.

The convention was held under the patronage of ANOCA, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, and the Mali NOC.

Around the Rings is one of the media partners for CISA.

Written by Ann Cantrell.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.