Morocco to host inaugural Africa Youth Games

2/8/2010

The first edition of the Africa Youth Games host contract between the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Local Organising committee represented by the Morrocco National Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports was singed on Wednesday 3 February at Atlas Hotel in casablanca, Morrocco.

The games are targeting young Africans athletes (boys and girls) aged between 15 and 17 years. The Games will be held from May 9th to 15th 2010 in Rabat.

14 sports desciplines will be on the programme: Athletics, Basketball (3 vs 3), Boxing, Fencing, Football, Gymnastics, Judo, Rowing, Swimming, Table Tennis; Taekwondo, Tennis and Wrestling. Exceptionnally, 2 sports: Swimming and Gymnastics will be hosted in Casablanca.

“The Africa Youth Games shall not only be limited to sports encounters for the young across the continent but will also include a culture and education programme. The Africa youth games will be a catalyst power of sport to promote friendship, unity and peace." said ANOCA President Intendant General Lassana Palenfo.

" Our government, is going to avail enough resouces to ensure that the games will be organised succesully. Thorugh the Africa Youth Games our hope is that if young people can learn to respect each other on the field of play, they may transmit this to the other parts of their daily lives." said Mr Moncef Belkhayat, Morrocco Minister of Youth and Sport.

The Africa Youth Games will bring together 800 athletes from all over Africa plus about 300 teams officials. Initiator of these games, ANOCA will inject one million dollars in the organisation of the Games said its president General Lassana Palenfo who also confirmed that Accommodation in Morroco will be provided for free to all athletes and Team officials.

Organised just three months before the first ever Youth Olympic Games in singapour, The Africa Youth Games represent a unique opportunity for African Youth to assemble and rehearse for the major event.
For the success of the Games, the Senegalese company, JAPPO Events and Sports Management Consulting Company which already a consultant company for Singapore 2010 was officially appointed by ANOCA as the Africa Youth Games Event organising company.

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