Sierra Leone's enthusiastic hunt for glory in various disciplines begins at the highly anticipated and prestigious African Games.
By Magdalene Konneh
Team Sierra Leone will compete in various disciplines at the 13th African Games, which will be held from 8 to 23 March in Ghana.
The team, consisting of athletes, sports officials from the Ministry, National Sports Authority, parliamentary Oversight Committee, National Olympics Committee and journalists, arrived in Accra, Ghana, on Thursday, March 7th, 2024, with high hopes of returning home with laurels at the end of the games.
The Games will commence with a spectacular official opening ceremony that will showcase the African continent’s unique cultural heritage, sporting talent, and diversity. The event will take place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium and will bring together Heads of State, high-level dignitaries, athletes, officials, and spectators from across the continent.
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and the Association of Africa Sports Confederations (AASC) will collaborate to organize the 13th edition of the games, following a Negotiated Agreement signed in February 2023 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The 13th African Games will be held from 8 to 23 March 2024 in Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast. Over 4,000 athletes will compete in 29 sports disciplines, eight of which will qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The African Games, owned and organized by the African Union on behalf of its member states, bring together athletes from across the continent every four years, one year before the Olympics.
All the participating countries are on the African continent. To compete in the African Games, nations must be affiliate members of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), and athletes must meet International Federation eligibility criteria.
The African Games provides a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and test their potential for a spot on their teams for the Olympic Games. Additionally, it highlights the rich African culture that promotes solidarity, social cohesion, and peace within the continent.
Sierra Leone athletes will compete in many sporting events, including Athletics, Cycling, Swimming, Beach Volleyball, Judo, Boxing, and Taekwondo, with high expectations of performing at a standard that will produce positive results.
Excitement is building up as the organising committee highlights the country’s readiness to host a mega-event. However, there have been reports of logistical problems and issues with facilities.
Additionally, there is a lack of big-name athletes competing, which is a cause for concern. Many people in Ghana are also sceptical about the country spending money on a mega-event when it is experiencing an economic crisis.
