African Games 2023

The African Games are multi-disciplinary sports events for AU Member States held every four years, one year before the Olympic Games. African Union Executive Council Decision 1032 (XXXIV) of February 2019 endorsed the offer of the Republic of Ghana to host the 13th Edition of the African Games 2023 (that have been postponed to 2024).  The Games will be hosted by the Republic of Ghana from 8th to 23rd March 2024 in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana, under the theme ‘Experience the African Dream’’.  According to the Statute of African Union Sport Council (AUSC) of 2016, the African Games are exclusive property of the African Union that holds all rights relating to their organization, exploitation and management.

The Games are aimed at improving the quality and competitiveness of sports and participating athletes; increase revenue through sponsorship and marketing of the Games; a platform for preparatory and qualifier for the Olympic Games and other international sports competitions; promoting harmony and synergy of actions within the African Sport Movement; a continental arena for the best athletes and an avenue for unity and cooperation on the African continent.

The African Games 2023, will attract more than five thousand athletes and officials, who will compete in twenty-two sports codes among them eight sports codes will be qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. Sports codes that will be qualifiers for the Paris Olympic Games are: Athletics, Badminton, Cycling, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Wrestling. Other sports codes on the Games’ programme will include: Arm-wrestling, Basketball 3x3, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Karate-Do, Rugby, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Weightlifting. Demonstration sports will include E-Sport, Mixed Martial Arts, Teqball, Sambo and Pickleball.

In February 2023, the AUC, the Republic of Ghana, Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and Association of African Sports Confederations (AASC) signed a Negotiated Agreement for organising the Accra Games. In line with the Negotiated Agreement, an Adhoc -Technical Committee for the African Games was established to oversee the organization of the 13th Edition of the African Games 2023 in Accra. The Adhoc TCAG comprise members from the African Union Sports Council Development Regions (representing AU Member States), representatives of ANOCA and AASC. The Committee is chaired by H.E Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development.