Athletes representing 52 nations have converged in Ghana for the African Games, a three-week sporting extravaganza that holds the dual significance of both intense competition and Olympic qualification for the 2024 Paris Games.
This week marked the commencement of the postponed 2023 African Games, inaugurated with a grand opening ceremony in Accra, Ghana’s capital, on Friday.
Formerly known as the All-African Games, this quadrennial sporting spectacle precedes the Olympics by a year. With 52 participating countries, this edition truly embodies a pan-African celebration of sports.
Over 5,000 athletes are set to engage in fierce competition across 30 disciplines, an expansion from the 2019 African Games, which featured 26 sports. Notably, the 2015 Games incorporated 22 disciplines.
Events are unfolding in Accra, Cape Coast, and Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city. The table tennis competitions witnessed Egypt securing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s singles, marking an impressive start. Football, another highlight, commenced on Thursday.
As the excitement unfolds, the 13th African Games will culminate on March 23, 2024.
The competition encompasses a diverse array of 30 disciplines, featuring eight Olympic qualifying events, 15 non-qualifying events, and seven demonstration sports aimed at spotlighting emerging trends and disciplines.
Among the Olympic qualifying events are swimming, athletics, badminton, cycling, tennis, table tennis, wrestling, and triathlon.
Adding an innovative touch, the demonstration sports introduce eSports, mixed martial arts, sambo, and scrabble, offering spectators a sneak peek into what the African Union describes as the “future of sports entertainment.”
Which nations have achieved the highest success in the competition?
Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa stand as the most accomplished nations, consistently securing top positions in gold medal rankings over the past six games.
The last instance of a different country breaking into the top three was in 1987 when Egypt, Tunisia, and Nigeria claimed the majority of gold medals.
The 13th African Games hold a significant level of prestige within the sporting community.
The proximity of the delayed 2023 games to the upcoming Paris Olympics in July has led to the notable absence of many renowned athletes. Simultaneously, certain disciplines coincide with national championships, prompting experienced competitors to prioritize these events.
In response to these scheduling challenges, South Africa acknowledged in a press release that the 13th African Games present a valuable chance for younger athletes to gain international experience at the continent’s highest level.
Compounded by the recent Africa Cup of Nations, where football teams fiercely competed, only eight nations have entered the football competition. However, exceptions include Kenya, represented by the reigning world 800-meter champion Mary Moraa, and Burkina Faso, sending the 2020 Olympic long jump bronze medalist, Hugues Fabrice Zango.
Despite the absence of some prominent figures, DW reporter Isaac Kaledzi emphasizes the importance of the African Games for athletes. According to him, the event serves as a platform for showcasing talent and provides opportunities for some to secure qualification for the Olympic Games.
Why did the games face a delay?
In essence, the postponement resulted from a dispute over finances and setbacks in facility readiness.
Traditionally orchestrated by the African Union (AU), the games took a different turn in 2019 when the AU, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), and the Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC) collaborated to host that year’s games as an Olympic qualifier leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. However, discord arose over issues such as marketing revenue and ownership of the games.
Simultaneously, Ghana encountered delays in completing the necessary facilities, further impeding the overall preparation timeline. Consequently, instead of the initially scheduled date in August 2023, the games were rescheduled to March 2024.
Similar to the Tokyo Olympics, which retained the “2020 Olympics” branding despite occurring in 2021, the 2023 African Games maintain their name despite the shift in the calendar.
Is Ghana adequately prepared to host the event?
Indeed, the country has made substantial investments, including the construction of the new Borteyman Sports Complex, valued at $145 million (€132.5 million). This state-of-the-art facility features a 1,000-seater Olympic-sized pool, a 10-lane competition pool, and an 8-lane warm-up pool.
The spokesperson for the Local Organizing Committee, Dan Kwaku Yeboah, expressed pride in the complex’s amenities. “We also have two world-class indoor sports halls for the indoor competitions and a complex with five tennis courts, all meeting international standards,” he stated. Additionally, Ghana allocated $34 million to complete the University of Ghana stadium, a venue for athletics, football, and rugby, which had been under construction for two decades.
To enhance the athletes’ experience, the government invested $16 million in refurbishing accommodation facilities on the campus, designated as the athletes’ village.
DW reporter Kaledzi, based in Accra, affirmed the country’s readiness for the games. “Everything is set; the facilities are attractive and up to standard,” Kaledzi reported after touring the venues. The government has further ensured efficient transportation by acquiring 55 buses and numerous vehicles to transport competitors and officials from the athletes’ village to the Borteyman Sports Complex, located a 30-minute drive away.
Kaledzi concluded, “All the venues, roads, and accommodations are in place. We can confidently say that everything looks promising for the games.”
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