Olympafrica : a programme for African youth

A project managed by the International Olympafrica Foundation

The International Olympafrica Foundation promotes the social development of young people through sport. Based in Dakar, its activities include the construction of sports and education centres in Africa, the creation of sporting programmes, the awarding of scholarships and the funding of microprojects run by local communities.

Un projet soutenu par l'ACNOA

Fondée en 1981, l'Association des Comités Nationaux Olympiques d'Afrique est une organisation internationale basée à Abuja, au Nigeria réunissant les 54 comités nationaux olympiques africains. Elle est au service du sport, de la jeunesse, du développement humain et de la promotion des valeurs olympiques en Afrique.

Created in 1989, the International Olympafrica Foundation promotes the social development of young people through sport. Its initiatives, which are carried out in partnership with various sports organisations, have been implemented in some 40 centres in more than 35 African countries.

Context

The Olympafrica programme was conceived by former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio Samaranch to promote the social values of the Olympic Movement in Africa.
It is run by the International Olympafrica Foundation under the auspices of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
The Foundation seeks to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged through the funding of activities organised around four key areas: sport (development of facilities, programmes and organisation of tournaments); culture (youth centres, libraries); education (training workshops, awarding of scholarships); and socio-economic initiatives (health posts, supporting local communities in the implementation of their handicrafts, market gardening and other projects).

Goals

Develop a network of centres to disseminate Olympic values such as peace and fraternity
Contribute to giving (new) hope to disadvantaged and at-risk young people by giving them the opportunity to participate in self-managed, non-formal education programmes
Use sport’s popular impact to motivate participants and offer them integrated development activities

Activities

Construction of multipurpose sports centres combining sport, culture, education and socio-economic aspects
IAAF Programme for 13–15-year-olds: athletics competitions for children, held over 24 days and involving more than 7,200 participants. Funded by World Athletics, formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)
FutbolNet Programme: created by the FC Barcelona Foundation, mixed football sessions for boys and girls to play together on the same pitch. Funded by the FC Barcelona Foundation and the IOC and provided in all of the Olympafrica network’s centres
OPSV Programme: sports programmes held during the school holidays
Specific programmes: support and backing for local communities to carry out socio-economic activities close to Olympafrica centres

Watch a video about the International Olympafrica Foundation’s activities

Impacts

More than 40 Olympafrica centres operating in 35 African countries, promoting access to sport for all
Some 5,000 young people taking part in the IAAF programme every year
Girls and boys playing together in the different programmes
Development of sports for persons with disabilities
Development of the local economy by supporting socio-economic projects in areas near sports centres

Funding

Cost of building a centre: $180,000, on average
Construction of centres (on the initiative of African National Olympic Committees) and carrying out programmes supported by the International Olympafrica Foundation and its partners (including the IOC, ANOCA, World Athletics, FC Barcelona Foundation and the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers of French-speaking Countries, known as CONFEJES)

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