8.A.

49 EC 06 / 09 (Original : French)

49th ANOC EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

Lausanne, 14 June 2009 ------

REPORT BY THE ASSOCIATION OF THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES OF AFRICA (ANOCA)

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 1 Presented by Int. General Lassana PALENFO President

Mr President, Distinguished Members of the Executive Council, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The present report covers the period since the previous session of our Council held in , China on April 5, 2008.

Several major events marked the life of our Association during this long inter-session, in particular : - the celebration of the 2008 in Beijing, China, where Africa made obvious progress compared to previous editions, - the unexpected resignation of ANOCAs Secretary General, as he was otherwise elected as deputy to the Peoples National Assembly of Angola, - the partnership agreement reached between ANOCA and the UNWTO-STEP Foundation, with a view to endow each Olympafrica centre in our Continent with a small library within the framework of the Foundations "Thank-You-Small-Library" project. - the dissolution by the African Union (AU) of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, which as a consequence opens up new perspectives for ANOCA in the organization of the African Games. - the withdrawal of Gambia as host country of the African Games 2011.

Ending on a sad note, this inter-session was marked by the passing away of the first President of ANOCA, Dr. Anani MATTHIA, IOC Member in Togo, in December last, and of Mr Ram Ruhee, IOC Member in Mauritius and Secretary General of his NOC. ANOCA sent in due time a message of condolences to the family of its late President and to the NOC of Togo, and delegated the President of the NOC of Benin to represent us at the funeral. A similar message was sent to the family of the late Ram Ruhee.

AT CONTINENTAL LEVEL

The celebration of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad held in Beijing, China from the 8th to the 24th of August 2008 obviously was the star event in this inter-session. The Games of Beijing met with phenomenal success. A record number of NOCs took part in the Games, more countries (87) won medals, the participation of women was increased, 132 Olympic records and 32 world records were beaten. With 40 medals captured, of which 12 gold, Africa registered in Beijing, China its best performance ever in the history of the Games.

These results are eloquent enough and speak for themselves - 40 medals reaped (against 25 in Sydney and ), of which 12 Olympic titles (against 9 in Sydney and Athens). As usual, Athletics took the lions share with 10 gold medals out of twelve, the other two gold medals going to swimmers : Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe who captured the gold in the 200 m backstroke, and Oussama Mellouli from Tunisia who won the mens freestyle 1.500 m.

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 2 Beijing 2008 was an opportunity for Kenya to build up power, emerging as the first African nation with a total of 14 medals (5 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze). Ethiopia was runner up with 7 medals (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze). Ethiopias top titles are due to exceptional who achieved a double victory in the 5,000 m et 10,000 m : they are Kenissa Bekele in the mens events and Tirunesh Dibaba for women.

The talent of a single from Zimbabwe, namely Kirsty Coventry, competing in , enabled her country, to achieve a 3rd African rank with a capital of 4 medals (1 gold, 3 silver).

Among other motives of satisfaction for Africa in this XXIX Olympiad, there is also Football. Besides Nigerias 2nd place in a fight to the finish (finally going down 0 : 1 to in the final), the other two competitors, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire, fought gallantly up to the quarter finals.

Finally, Cameroons astounding woman competitor in the Triple Jump, Françoise Mbango, managed to remain at the very top, improving the Olympic record as she landed 15.39 m away from the take-off board. It is also to be noted that new countries emerged in the table of medals, for instance Togo, thanks to Benjamin Boukpetis bronze in the paddle sport discipline. Mauritius, thanks to a bronze won by Bruno Julie in (under 54kg) also made its entry in the list of medals. And so did Sudan with a silver won in the mens 800 m thanks to Ismaïl.

Egypts Pharaohs saved their heads thanks to the bronze captured by Hesban Mesbah in the mens / 90kg event. South Africa had to do with Khotso Mokoenas silver won in the mens Long Jump.

Having overcome conditions of preparation that were not really adequate in all parts, Africas representatives are to be congratulated in view of their performance in Beijing, China. Fine-tuning operations that seem feasible indeed must be foreseen with the perspective of keeping up, even improving this performance in four years time in , England.

Overall Table of Medals

Gold Silver Bronze Total

1 China 51 21 28 100 ------15 Kenya 5 5 4 14 18 Ethiopia 4 1 2 7 38 Zimbabwe 1 3 0 4 52 Cameroon 1 0 0 1 52 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 61 Nigeria 0 1 3 4 65 Algeria 0 1 1 2 65 Morocco 0 1 1 2 71 South Africa 0 1 0 1 71 Sudan 0 1 0 1 81 Egypt 0 0 1 1 81 Mauritius 0 0 1 1 81 Togo 0 0 1 1

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 3 All African NOCs, out of the 204 world-wide, took part in the Beijing Games, representing 7.9% of the total for the whole world. - Africa had the highest number (23) of female flag bearers, representing 44% of African NOCs. - In the Chefs de Mission category, Africa had the highest number of women (6) heading their delegation. - African NOCs had the widest gap in the number of male / female participants, despite the fact that they had the highest number of woman flag bearers. - All continents increased their count of medals except Europe.

As to the Paralympic Games also held in Beijing from the 6th to the 17th of September 2008, African countries such as Algeria, Tunisia and South Africa took up the whole screen, reaping an unprecedented booty of medals.

INSTITUTIONAL LEVEL

The Secretary Generals unexpected resignation on November 12th last was naturally the most salient fact under this chapter. He gave instructions to the Secretary, through a telephone call, that she should inform the President and Executive Committee Members that due to his mandate as Deputy of the Angolan nation, he would henceforth be unable to carry out his functions as member of the ANOCA Executive Committee, and by way of consequence as Secretary General.

This resignation, the second in the history of ANOCA, invites us to a reflection on our founding texts. Should such personalities be elected or appointed as it is the case in other organizations similar to ours ? That is the question ! In any case, since that resignation, the Executive Committee has created an Ad Hoc Committee heading the Secretariat until the end of the mandate. Otherwise, it is a comforting fact that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently took measures concerning ANOCAs diplomatic accreditation in Nigeria. Put briefly, the Headquarters Agreement signed between ANOCA and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is now in force.

The report hereafter will cover the following chapters in this order : - INSTITUTIONAL MEETINGS - LIFE OF THE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES - INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION - CONCLUSION

INSTITUTIONAL MEETINGS The inter-session was rich in and busy with institutional meetings. ANOCA held meetings of its constitutive entities (General Assembly, Executive Committee, specialized Commissions, etc.) at regular intervals. In particular, the following meetings were held : - The Extraordinary General Assembly held in Beijing, China on April 4th, 2008, on the occasion of the ANOC General Assembly. - Informal meeting of the Executive Committee in Beijing, on April 7th. - XVI ANOC General Assembly in Beijing, during which the following Members of ANOCA were distinguished with the ANOC Merit Award : Mr Mustapha Berraf (Algeria), Mr Moussa Aggrey (Chad), Mr Jacob Gbeti (Central African Republic), Mr Gustavo Conceiçao (Angola), Mr Abdoulie Touray (Gambia). 49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 4 Other Meetings in which ANOCA took an active part : - Meeting of the IOC International Relations Commission, of which the President of ANOCA is a full member, held on May 30th in Lausanne. - 48th International Session of Young Participants in the I.O.A. in Athens, Greece on June 12th last, during which the President of ANOCA was distinguished with the KNOSSOS Award for his contribution to the development of the Olympic Movement throughout the world. He was accompanied by another African IOC Member, namely Mr Sam Ramsamy, who received the Olympia Award. - Round Table on "Sport, Peace and Development" for the countries of the Great Lakes Region, organized from the 8th to the 10th of September 2008 in Zanzibar by UNESCO. Besides a presentation made by the President of ANOCA, the latter also acted as Moderator for one of the most attended and acclaimed sessions. - Meeting of Olympic Solidarity Commission in Acapulco, Mexico on October 8th, where the President of ANOCA was the single representative for ANOCA in the absence of the Secretary General. - 2nd Conference of African Union Sports Ministers in Accra, Ghana from the 10th to the 14th of October 2008, where ANOCA was represented by the 1st Vice-President at the Experts Meeting held from the 8th to the 10th of October 2008. This conference concluded with the dissolution of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, a situation that puts the Olympic Movement – and therefore ANOCA – in pole position for the organization of the African Games. The 3rd Conference will be in Abuja in the course of 2009, to finalize the modus operandi to be in force henceforward. - Meeting of the 6 Olympic Solidarity Offices in Rome, Italy on November 9th 2008 where ANOCA made a PowerPoint presentation. - 25th Seminar of African NOC Secretaries General held in Kampala, Uganda on December 4-5, 2008, where for the first time ever in ANOCAs history, the most senior Secretaries General were distinguished by the President of ANOCA as a token of recognition for their contribution to the development of Olympism and Sport in Africa. The next Seminar will be in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso in 2009. - Conference on « Sport and Peace organized on December 4-5 last in Monaco, where Mr Cheikh Thiaré, Executive Committee Member, represented ANOCA. - Constitutive General Assembly of the African Association of National Olympic Academies (AANOA) held in Tunis on December 10-13 last. ANOCA was represented by its President. The Executive Board of this new structure includes the following members : x President – Tunisia x Secretary General – Mauritius x Treasurer – Central African Republic

The Executive Committee of ANOCA met on two occasions since the beginning of this year, in January and April. These two sessions were important not only because the budget for 2009 was approved by the Committee, but also because preparations for the Elective General Assembly in July were thoroughly screened.

It is important to note that the 13th General Assembly of ANOCA, as mentioned earlier, will be not only an elective one, but is also to be marked by the presence of major personalities from the International Olympic Movement, and in particular that of the President of the IOC.

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 5 - Champions Gala Night in Gabon, on February 22, 2009 : the NOC of Gabon organized the 2nd edition of the « Champions Gala Night » whose aim is to honour the athletes and leaders of the Gabonese Olympic and Sports Movement. On this occasion, and upon the invitation of said NOC, ANOCA was represented by its President.

2009 « Women and Sport ». The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Olympic Family celebrated on March 5, 2009 the International Day of Women and awarded the 2009 « Women and Sport » Trophies honouring five outstanding personalities from the world of Sport. The official ceremony took place in Lausanne in the presence of Dr. Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC, the Chairperson of the IOC « Women and Sport » Commission and the members of said Commission. The five continental trophies went to women who have contributed in a remarkable way towards increasing the participation of women and girls in sports activities at the international level. The Trophy for Africa was presented to Ms Lydia Nsekera from Burundi.

CISA 2009 : International Convention for Sport in Africa : 12 – 14 April 2009. The third CISA edition was held in Alexandria, Egypt on April 12-14, 2009 where delegates from the whole world took part. Patronized by ANOCA, this forum offers African Sport protagonists an opportunity for a critical assessment of the evolution of African Sport and to propose tentative ways of ensuring its development. The next edition is scheduled for 2010 in South Africa.

Olympic Solidarity Forums on the 2009-2012 Quadrennial Plan. Within the framework of the 2009-2012 quadrennial plan, and with a view to its correct realisation, Olympic Solidarity organized in partnership with ANOCA four forums throughout Africa, aimed at providing more ample information on the 2009-2012 quadrennial programme; these forums took place as per the following calendar : - Casablanca (10-11 March) and Libreville (19-20 March) for French-speaking NOCs; - Johannesburg (4-5 May) and Addis (7-8 May) for English-speaking NOCs. At each of them, ANOCA was represented by a member of its Executive Committee who made a presentation on the continental programme specific to Africa.

International Forum on the Harnessing of Sport for Development and Peace : Lausanne, 7-8 May 2009. The first International Forum on the Harnessing of Sport for Development and Peace was held in Lausanne on 7–8 May 2009.

At the initiative of the IOC, representatives of world bodies (UN, UNESCO, UNICEF), governmental and non-governmental organizations, CONFEJES, of the private sector and of the NOCs gathered at the Olympic Museum for two days of exchanges and debates.

ANOCA was represented by its President, who had a communication delivered on the theme « The Olympic Movement driving the social and development agenda ».

This very successful forum gave evidence, without the shadow of a doubt, that Sport has a role to play in development world-wide.

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 6 LIFE OF THE NOCs

During the inter-session, activities in our NOCs were marked by the preparations for the Olympic Games.

Africa, as mentioned above, was represented in a dignified way by talented athletes at the XXIX Olympiad and at the Paralympic Games.

Generally speaking, the results obtained Beijing were above those of Athens. Despite flattering results, African sports leaders from all organizations must continue, within the framework of a unified action and in solidarity, the common policy of identifying, promoting and preparing Africas sports talents for an even more dignified and more glorious representation of our Continent in world competitions and above all in London in 2012.

Besides, appointed by the President of the IOC, the President of ANOCA visited the NOCs of Madagascar and Algeria in a mission of good offices between said NOCs and their respective Youth and Sports Ministries concerning a disagreement in relation with governmental bills meant to govern the Sports Associations and the NOC in each of these two countries. Whereas the problem was successfully settled in Madagascar, this is not yet the case in Algeria.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

ANOCA, generally speaking, had developed intense activities in the field of cooperation, especially in relation with its partners and with institutions for international cooperation as mentioned hereafter : IOC, Olympic Solidarity, ANOC, AU, UNHCR, UNESCO But a special mention must be made for the IOC (Olympic Solidarity). ANOCA can only hail and welcome these new development bridge-ways and we express our full gratitude to our partners.

CONCLUSION

These are the essential activities that have marked the life of our Association during the inter-session.

Along the years, ANOCA has confirmed itself - allowing for inevitable imperfections that characterize any human undertaking - as a model of dynamic and positive cooperation of which African Olympism and Sport should be proud. After over 27 years of existence, we can claim rightly that ANOCA is becoming an irreplaceable instrument in the service of development for Olympism and Sport throughout the Continent.

Thank you for your kind attention.

49th ANOC E.C. Meeting – Lausanne, 14 June 2009 – Report by the Vice-President for Africa 7