(ATR) The annual International Convention for African Sports return to its roots in Dakar, Senegal, this weekend. The Senegalese capital played host to the first edition in 2007.
It’s a one-of-a-kind event for African Sport, usually drawing around 200 delegates. Founder and organizer Diamil Faye says CISA has become "an important place to network and share new ideas".
A delayed opening ceremony wrought an hour of welcoming remarks from eight different speakers before the star of the show had his turn.
That would be Abdoul Mbaye, Senegal Prime Minister since 2012, The name should be familiar to many. His father was Keba Mbaye, long-time IOC member and chair of the Ethics and Juridical commissions, who died in 2007.
Son Abdoul was a banker before being tapped to take the pm post last year,
In his brief remarks, Mbaye noted that "Africa needs ambitious but realistic sports development".
With its sports development now decentralized to local government, Senegal faces questions on the equity of resources that are needed to carry out this role for local government.
Representatives of the three 2020 bid cities are in Dakar to lend solidarity to the African cause and speak to the handful of IOC members present.
Olympian and Japanese parliamentarian Seiko Hashimotois in Dakar and says she plans to be at other international gatherings ahead of the September IOC vote. The six-member Tokyo team is headed by CEO Masato Mizuno.
From Istanbul, CEO Ali Kiremitçioğlu led a team that included Sevi Hubert of Jon Tibbs and Associates.
Daniella Derosa of Madrid 2020 visited the African sports jounalists seminar where she was able to answer queries about the Spanish bid while international relationschief Theresa Zabell checked out a fun run for students. International consultant Simon Clegg is part of the Madrid team.
IOC members in Dakar included Andres Botero, now sports minister for Colombia and lobbyist for the bid from Medellin for the 2018 Youth Olympics. Also here is Beatrice Allen from neighbor The Gambia. Singapore member and likely candidate for IOC president Ser Miang Ng was down as a late arrival.
Outgoing IOC director for international cooperation Tommy Sithole is in Dakar to serve as a panelist Saturday with Khaled Zein Eldin. Sithole is leaving his IOC post to try to unseat the Egyptian as secretary general for the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa. The ANOCA election is in July.
The CISA convention closes Sunday.
Written and reported in Dakar by Ed HulaEd Hula
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