The 2023 African Games officially opened on March 8, 2024 in Accra, seven months late, following a ceremony without excess. Ghana thus becomes the 10th country to organize this major pan-African multi-sport gathering, after Congo-Brazzaville (1965, 2015), Nigeria (1973, 2003), Algeria (1978, 2007), Kenya (1987), Egypt (1991), Zimbabwe (1995), South Africa (1999), Mozambique (2011) and Morocco (2019).
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From our special correspondent in Accra,
It is in the brand new stadium of the University of Ghana that this edition of the African Games opened, seven months after the date initially planned [1]. The country has been waiting for this moment since 2018 and its designation as host of this Pan-African multisport event.
The country or at least its leaders. Because the stands were sparse, this March 8, 2024, while the some 11,000 seats in the enclosure were sold between 50 and 500 cedis, 3.5 to 35 euros. Prices too high for a population hit hard by a deep economic crisis? Vera, a young volunteer, has another explanation: “ I think the information about the ceremony did not reach people. Many people were not aware of the details about this opening ceremony. But I’m sure there will be a lot of spectators during the sporting events. »
In the meantime, this Friday, it was in an almost intimate atmosphere that delegations from more than 50 countries paraded on the athletics track. From the applause, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and the countries represented by a single athlete during the ceremony (Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, etc.) were the most warmly welcomed. But the real star was obviously the Ghanaian delegation, determined to shine in the 29 disciplines which appear on the program of this major sporting gathering.
“ It’s about time the African Games came to Kwame Nkrumah’s land »
After the parade of nations, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, spoke. “ It was time for the African Games to come to the land of Kwame Nkrumah, figure of Pan-Africanism “, he said into the microphone, from a podium. Ghanaian Head of State Nana Akufo-Addo responded in his speech from the presidential podium: better late than never », before officially inaugurating these African Games.
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Then, Nana Akufo-Addo gave way to the artists: the South African Kamo Mphela, the Ghanaian King Promise and Shatta Wale, and their compatriot Pat Thomas. With this concert, the atmosphere went up a notch. Mabio, who wears a polo shirt with the motto of these African Games (“Experience the African dream”), is enjoying it. “ We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time and it’s here, we’re finally here. And we are happy to be able to be part of it », he slips, before a fireworks display brings the evening to a close.
[1] These African Games, initially scheduled for August 4 to 19, 2023, were postponed following delays in preparations in Ghana.