ANOCA Finalizes African Games Agreement

(ATR) The final paperwork is being drafted to transfer the "organization and management" of the African Games to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa.

Speaking to the Association of National Olympic Committee General Assembly, President Lassana Palenfo updated the delegates on ANOCA developments over the last year.

The highlight was an agreement forged on Oct. 2 at a meeting with the Association of African Sports Confederations (UCSA) in Ethiopia. The signatures required to make the arrangement official are expected to be signed in the "near future," he said.

Currently the domain of African governments, the control of the African Games by ANOCA has been sought for years.

"The second of October, 2017 will be remained etched in the history of African sports, as it marked the finalization of the historic agreement with the African Union which brought the trust of the organization and management to the African Games to ANOCA," Palenfo said. "UCSA will be responsible for the technical arrangements. This signed agreement will help strengthen our relationship with the AU for the development and popularization of sport in Africa."

The 2019 event was scheduled for Equatorial Guinea, but Palenfo described to reporters yesterday a desire to solicit new bids for the event. He said that Ghana was bidding for the 2023 edition, but rising costs threatened Equatorial Guinea’s hosting.

President of the Equatorial Guinea Olympic Committee Manuel Asumu Cawan did not confirm any change to Around the Rings when reached by email. Cawan said that "I think, if he tells you it is because he has certainty; we hope that the time will come."

Palenfo’s presentation to the ANOC assembly failed to mentionthe ongoing dispute over the ANOCA presidential elections from May. Prior to that meeting in Djibouti, challenger Hamad Kalkaba Malboum was barred from running at the last minute. Malboum has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has yet to make a decision.

ANOCA will hold a General Assembly at the end of the ANOC assembly to discuss the events in Djibouti surrounding the election.

PanamSports Doles Out NOC Support

Julio Maglione says more funds have been made available to PanamSports members since last year.

Maglione, who was succeeded in April by Neven Ilic, remains on the ANOC Executive Board as a representative of the Americas. He updated the assembly on the elections and the new work being done by Ilic and his fellow executives to support athletes and NOCs in the region.

"Our Olympic Committees should have better working conditions, better sport facilities in the service of athlete," Maglione told the ANOC General Assembly in Prague.

"We are giving $120,000 per year for each NOC starting in 2016, a program to improve infrastructure and facilities. We believe each NOC should have its own headquarters or the ability to upgrade or refurbish their facilities."

PanamSports will hold its own assembly on Nov. 4 following the ANOC meeting where more detailed information will be presented about the upcoming Lima 2019 Pan American Games and revitalization efforts of the organization.

Earlier in the day Maglione organized a "round of applause" for ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad to start the assembly. Ahmad has been named in news reports as "co-conspirator #2" in a part of the U.S. Department of Justice bribery case against FIFA officials. After the reports came out, Ahmad stepped down from his role in all FIFA positions.

"I wish to say that the executive council took detailed note of all of these facts and decided unanimously to support our president and give him our full trust and support," Maglione said of the allegations.

Kocijančič Briefs ANOC on Europe

European Olympic Committees interim president Janez Kocijančič delivered a brief report on the EOC highlighting athletes, good governance and gender equity.

Regarding good governance, he emphasized the necessity for transparency and accountability.

"We are working with the European Union and I think we are improving our function and autonomy," Kocijančič said.

The Slovenian leader discussed organization of the EOC’s 2017 European Youth Olympic Festivals – a winter edition in Erzurum, Turkey and a summer version in Gyor, Turkey.

Kocijančič also noted that preparations are busily continuing for the second edition of the European Games, which will be held in Minsk, Belarus in 2019.

Kocijančič is the lone candidate to become the next president of the EOC at the November General Assembly in Zagreb, Croatia. The Slovenian will officially take the helm from Patrick Hickey, who stepped down following his arrest in Rio on charges of breaking Brazilian law on the resale of Olympic tickets.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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