All-Africa Games
Encyclopedia
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event
held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa. The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
(ANOCA) will takeover the organization of the games after a meeting of the African Union (AU) Conference of Sports Ministers recommended the dissolution of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA). All of the competing nations are from the African
continent.
The first Games were held in 1965 in Brazzaville
, Congo
. The International Olympic Committee
granted official recognition as a continental multi-sport event, along with the Asian Games
and Pan American Games
.
Since 1999, the Games have also included athletes with a disability.
conceived the Pan African Games as early as 1920. The colonial powers who ruled Africa at the time were wary of the idea, suspecting the unifying aspect of sport among African people would cause them to assert their independence.
Attempts were made to host the games in Algiers, Algeria in 1925 and Alexandria, Egypt in 1928, but despite considerable preparations taken by coordinators, the efforts failed. The International Olympic Committee
's (IOC) first African member, Greek-born Egypt
ian sprinter
Angelo Bolanaki, donated funds to erect a stadium, but still the Games were set back for another three decades.
In the early 60's, French-speaking countries of Africa organized the Friendship Games. The Games were organized by Madagascar (1960) and then Côte d'Ivoire (1961). The third games were set for Senegal in 1963. Before they were completed, African Ministers of Youth and Sport met in Paris in 1962; as a few English-speaking countries were already participating, they rechristened the Games as the Pan African Games. The Games were granted official recognition by the IOC as being on par with other continental Games such as the Asian Games
and the Pan American Games
.
In July 1965, the first games
were held in Brazzaville
, Congo, now called the All-Africa Games. From 30 countries, around 2,500 athletes competed. Egypt
topped the medal count for the first Games.
In 1966, the SCSA (Supreme Council for Sport in Africa) was organized in Bamako
; it manages the All-Africa Games. The second edition were awarded to Mali
in 1969, but a military coup forced the cancellation of the Games. Lagos, Nigeria stepped in as host for the Games in 1971. Those Games were finally held in 1973
due to the Biafra War, which had just ended in Nigeria.
In 1977, the 3rd Games
were scheduled to take place in Algeria
, but due to technical reasons, it had to be postponed for a year and was held in 1978. Continuing the pattern, the next Games
were scheduled to take place in Kenya
in 1983, but were pushed back to 1985 and finally took place in Nairobi
in 1987.
The four-year Olympic rhythm has not missed a beat since, and the Games have been organized in Cairo
, Harare
, Johannesburg
, and Abuja
. In 2007, Algiers once again hosted, becoming the first repeat host
. The 2011 edition of the All-Africa Games was held in Maputo, Mozambique
in September 2011. Brazzaville will host the 2015 edition in honor of the Games' 50th anniversary.
).
, Soviet Union-Armenian
diplomat Ashot Melik-Shahnazaryan got the idea to create the Pan-Armenian Games
.
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa. The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa is an international organization that unites the 53 National Olympic Committees of Africa...
(ANOCA) will takeover the organization of the games after a meeting of the African Union (AU) Conference of Sports Ministers recommended the dissolution of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA). All of the competing nations are from the African
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
continent.
The first Games were held in 1965 in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
. The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
granted official recognition as a continental multi-sport event, along with the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
and Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
Since 1999, the Games have also included athletes with a disability.
History
Modern Olympics founder Pierre de CoubertinPierre de Coubertin
Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin was a French educationalist and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games...
conceived the Pan African Games as early as 1920. The colonial powers who ruled Africa at the time were wary of the idea, suspecting the unifying aspect of sport among African people would cause them to assert their independence.
Attempts were made to host the games in Algiers, Algeria in 1925 and Alexandria, Egypt in 1928, but despite considerable preparations taken by coordinators, the efforts failed. The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
's (IOC) first African member, Greek-born Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
Angelo Bolanaki, donated funds to erect a stadium, but still the Games were set back for another three decades.
In the early 60's, French-speaking countries of Africa organized the Friendship Games. The Games were organized by Madagascar (1960) and then Côte d'Ivoire (1961). The third games were set for Senegal in 1963. Before they were completed, African Ministers of Youth and Sport met in Paris in 1962; as a few English-speaking countries were already participating, they rechristened the Games as the Pan African Games. The Games were granted official recognition by the IOC as being on par with other continental Games such as the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
and the Pan American Games
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
.
In July 1965, the first games
1965 All-Africa Games
The first All-Africa Games were played from July 18, 1965 to July 25, 1965 in Brazzaville, Congo.The first games to open to the entire African continent occurred a full forty years after they were first intended. Pierre de Coubertin, had proposed the first African Games be held in Algiers, Algeria...
were held in Brazzaville
Brazzaville
-Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo...
, Congo, now called the All-Africa Games. From 30 countries, around 2,500 athletes competed. Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
topped the medal count for the first Games.
In 1966, the SCSA (Supreme Council for Sport in Africa) was organized in Bamako
Bamako
Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
; it manages the All-Africa Games. The second edition were awarded to Mali
Mali
Mali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
in 1969, but a military coup forced the cancellation of the Games. Lagos, Nigeria stepped in as host for the Games in 1971. Those Games were finally held in 1973
1973 All-Africa Games
The 2nd All-Africa Games were played from January 7, 1973 to January 18, 1973 in Lagos, Nigeria.After the success of the first African Games, the organizing bodies awarded the second games to Bamako, Mali to be held in 1969. A military coup disrupted the plans and the organizers moved the games to...
due to the Biafra War, which had just ended in Nigeria.
In 1977, the 3rd Games
1978 All-Africa Games
The 3rd All-Africa Games were played from July 13, 1978 to July 28, 1978 in Algiers, Algeria. 45 countries participated in twelve sports.The Egyptian team, which had topped the medals table in the previous two games was called home by its government midway through the games after a brawl marred the...
were scheduled to take place in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, but due to technical reasons, it had to be postponed for a year and was held in 1978. Continuing the pattern, the next Games
1987 All-Africa Games
The 4th All-Africa Games were played from August 1, 1987 to August 12, 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya. 42 countries participated in fourteen sports.From the beginning the intent had been to hold the African Games every four years. Economic difficulties and general civil unrest had never allowed this to...
were scheduled to take place in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 1983, but were pushed back to 1985 and finally took place in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
in 1987.
The four-year Olympic rhythm has not missed a beat since, and the Games have been organized in Cairo
1991 All-Africa Games
The 5th All-Africa Games were held from September 20 to October 1, 1991 in Cairo, Egypt. Forty-three countries participated in eighteen sports....
, Harare
1995 All-Africa Games
The 6th All-Africa Games were played from September 13, 1995 to September 23, 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe. 46 countries participated in eighteen sports....
, Johannesburg
1999 All-Africa Games
The 7th All-Africa Games were held from September 10, 1999 to September 19, 1999 in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. 53 countries participated in eighteen sports. Netball was included as a demonstration sport....
, and Abuja
2003 All-Africa Games
The 8th All Africa Games were October 5-17, 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria. 53 countries participated in 23 sports. The main venue was the newly constructed Abuja Stadium...
. In 2007, Algiers once again hosted, becoming the first repeat host
2007 All-Africa Games
The 9th All-Africa Games took place between 11 and 23 July 2007 in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. Algiers is the first city to hold All-Africa Games for a second time. The 1978 All-Africa Games were held there...
. The 2011 edition of the All-Africa Games was held in Maputo, Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
in September 2011. Brazzaville will host the 2015 edition in honor of the Games' 50th anniversary.
Editions
| Year | Games | Host | Dates | Nations | Athletes | Sports | Top Country On Medal Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1965 All-Africa Games The first All-Africa Games were played from July 18, 1965 to July 25, 1965 in Brazzaville, Congo.The first games to open to the entire African continent occurred a full forty years after they were first intended. Pierre de Coubertin, had proposed the first African Games be held in Algiers, Algeria... |
 BrazzavilleBrazzaville -Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo... |
July 18 – 25 |  United Arab Republic |
|||
| 1969 |  BamakoBamako Bamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world... |
Disrupted by Military Coup | |||||
| 1973 | 1973 All-Africa Games The 2nd All-Africa Games were played from January 7, 1973 to January 18, 1973 in Lagos, Nigeria.After the success of the first African Games, the organizing bodies awarded the second games to Bamako, Mali to be held in 1969. A military coup disrupted the plans and the organizers moved the games to... |
 LagosLagos Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa... |
January 7 – 18 |  Egypt |
|||
| 1978 | 1978 All-Africa Games The 3rd All-Africa Games were played from July 13, 1978 to July 28, 1978 in Algiers, Algeria. 45 countries participated in twelve sports.The Egyptian team, which had topped the medals table in the previous two games was called home by its government midway through the games after a brawl marred the... |
 AlgiersAlgiers ' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000... |
July 13 – 28 |  Tunisia |
|||
| 1987 | 1987 All-Africa Games The 4th All-Africa Games were played from August 1, 1987 to August 12, 1987 in Nairobi, Kenya. 42 countries participated in fourteen sports.From the beginning the intent had been to hold the African Games every four years. Economic difficulties and general civil unrest had never allowed this to... |
 NairobiNairobi Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is... |
August 1 – 12 |  Egypt |
|||
| 1991 | 1991 All-Africa Games The 5th All-Africa Games were held from September 20 to October 1, 1991 in Cairo, Egypt. Forty-three countries participated in eighteen sports.... |
Cairo Cairo Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life... |
September 20 - October 1 | Egypt |
|||
| 1995 | 1995 All-Africa Games The 6th All-Africa Games were played from September 13, 1995 to September 23, 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe. 46 countries participated in eighteen sports.... |
 HarareHarare Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its... |
September 13 – 23 |  South Africa |
|||
| 1999 | 1999 All-Africa Games The 7th All-Africa Games were held from September 10, 1999 to September 19, 1999 in Greater Johannesburg, South Africa. 53 countries participated in eighteen sports. Netball was included as a demonstration sport.... |
Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... |
September 10 – 19 | South Africa |
|||
| 2003 | 2003 All-Africa Games The 8th All Africa Games were October 5-17, 2003 in Abuja, Nigeria. 53 countries participated in 23 sports. The main venue was the newly constructed Abuja Stadium... |
Abuja Abuja Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos... |
October 5 – 17 | Nigeria |
|||
| 2007 | 2007 All-Africa Games The 9th All-Africa Games took place between 11 and 23 July 2007 in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. Algiers is the first city to hold All-Africa Games for a second time. The 1978 All-Africa Games were held there... |
Algiers Algiers ' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000... |
July 11 – 23 | Egypt |
|||
| 2011 | 2011 All-Africa Games The 10th All-Africa Games took place between September 3–18, 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique. Maputo's hosting marked only the third time the Games was held in the southern part of the continent.-Host awarding:... |
 MaputoMaputo Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its... |
September 3 – 18 | South Africa |
|||
| 2015 | 2015 All-Africa Games The 11th All-Africa Games will be hosted by Brazaville, Republic of Congo. The Games return to their birthplace after 50 years. The 2015 All-Africa Games will mark the 50th anniversary of the 'African Olympics'.-Host Awarding:... |
Brazzaville Brazzaville -Transport:The city is home to Maya-Maya Airport and a railway station on the Congo-Ocean Railway. It is also an important river port, with ferries sailing to Kinshasa and to Bangui via Impfondo... |
Future Event | ||||
All-time medal table
The table below gives an overview of the all-time medal count of the All-Africa Games (updated after the 2007 All-Africa Games2007 All-Africa Games
The 9th All-Africa Games took place between 11 and 23 July 2007 in Algiers, the capital city of Algeria. Algiers is the first city to hold All-Africa Games for a second time. The 1978 All-Africa Games were held there...
).
| Pos | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | Year of first medal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 431 | 328 | 320 | 1079 | 1965 | |
| 2 | Nigeria |
303 | 277 | 256 | 836 | 1965 |
| 3 | 198 | 174 | 137 | 509 | 1995 | |
| 4 | 132 | 152 | 189 | 473 | 1965 | |
| 5 | 123 | 106 | 133 | 362 | 1965 | |
| 6 | 90 | 97 | 104 | 291 | 1965 | |
| 7 | 40 | 40 | 73 | 153 | 1965 | |
| 8 | 26 | 38 | 64 | 128 | 1965 | |
| 9 | 23 | 29 | 34 | 86 | 1965 | |
| 10 | 20 | 42 | 81 | 143 | 1965 | |
| 11 | 18 | 26 | 57 | 101 | 1987 | |
| 12 | 17 | 19 | 33 | 69 | 1965 | |
| 13 | 17 | 18 | 33 | 68 | 1965 | |
| 14 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 58 | 1965 | |
| 15 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 36 | 1973 | |
| 16 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 33 | 1987 | |
| 17 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 1991 | |
| 18 |  Mauritius |
6 | 19 | 27 | 52 | 1987 |
| 19 |  Libya |
6 | 8 | 16 | 30 | 1978 |
| 20 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 29 | 1991 | |
| 21 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 22 | 1965 | |
| 22 | 4 | 4 | 22 | 30 | 1965 | |
| 23 | Mali |
4 | 4 | 7 | 16 | 1965 |
| 24 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 27 | 1965 | |
| 25 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 1991 | |
| 26 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1987 | |
| 27 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2007 | |
| 28 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1973 | |
| 29 |  Democratic Republic of the Congo |
2 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 1965 |
| 30 | Republic of the Congo |
1 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 1965 |
| 31 |  Central African Republic |
1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1991 |
| 32 |  Guinea |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1973 |
 Sierra Leone |
1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1991 | |
| 33 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1973 | |
| 34 |  Chad |
1 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 1965 |
| 35 |  Cape Verde |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1999 |
| 36 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1987 | |
| 37 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1973 | |
| 38 | 0 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 1987 | |
| 39 |  Burkina Faso |
0 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 1965 |
| 40 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 1965 | |
| 41 |  Niger |
0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 1965 |
| 42 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1973 | |
| 43 |  The Gambia |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1973 |
| 44 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1987 | |
| 45 |  São Tomé and Príncipe |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2003 |
| 46 |  Malawi |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1987 |
| 47 |  Guinea-Bissau |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1999 |
Sports
32 sports were presented in All-Africa Games history.
|
|
Influence
After hearing about the Pan-African Games whilst on a business trip to CongoRepublic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
, Soviet Union-Armenian
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
diplomat Ashot Melik-Shahnazaryan got the idea to create the Pan-Armenian Games
Pan-Armenian Games
The Pan-Armenian Games are a multi-sport event, held between competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia. They consist of various competitions in individual and team sports among the Armenian athletes...
.
See also
- Football at the All-Africa GamesFootball at the All-Africa GamesThe men's Association football tournament has been held at every session of the All-Africa Games since 1965. Women's competition was added in 2003....
- Asian GamesAsian GamesThe Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
- Pan American GamesPan American GamesThe Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...