Montreal, March 4, 2024
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to share its plan to promote clean sport at the 2023 African Games* in Accra, Ghana.
The teams commitment of athletes et legacy anti-doping during major events (MEAL) will be on hand for the Games, which will take place from March 8 to 23. The 13th edition of the Games will bring together more than 5.000 athletes from around fifty countries who will compete in 30 disciplines.
“We look forward to launching our Athlete Engagement and MEAL programs in Accra,” said WADA Africa Office Director Rodney Swigelaar. The African Games represent an important opportunity for WADA to connect with athletes from across the continent. The Athlete Engagement Team, which will be led by African athletes, will have the important task of collaborating with athletes and their support staff throughout the event. The MEAL program will play a role in connecting with anti-doping practitioners and building the capacity of anti-doping organizations in the region. »
The African Games will also represent an important milestone, as it coincides with the creation of a National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) for Ghana, which is still in the development phase.
“The African Union Commission looks forward to welcoming athletes from across the continent to this edition of the African Games,” said Her Excellency Minata Samate Cessouma, African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Development. and Representative of Africa on the WADA Executive Committee. In preparation for the Games, we have worked in coordination with WADA to ensure continued growth in the region's anti-doping capacity. We are delighted that these Games are taking place in Ghana, as they represent a turning point in the establishment of the Ghana Anti-Doping Agency. Collaborating with WADA allowed us to strengthen anti-doping capabilities and implement the technical aspects of the program, which will leave a lasting legacy in this region for years to come. »
“These Games are the culmination of the work of local organizations who made great efforts before the event,” added Mr. Swigelaar. They will also remind us how much the anti-doping program has strengthened in this region compared to what was in place in previous editions. WADA is looking forward to what promises to be a great celebration of African sport in Ghana. »
High-level forum on anti-doping in sport in Africa
Before the start of the African Games, the African Union Commission, with the support of WADA, will organize a high-level forum on anti-doping in sport on March 7, 2024. African sports ministers and others Senior government officials, leaders of the African Sports Movement, regional anti-doping organizations, NADOs and other clean sport stakeholders will participate in the forum. The event will serve as a consultation and information sharing session, while providing an opportunity to network and develop anti-doping policies across the continent.
“The anti-doping forum planned during the African Games promises to be impactful and informative,” said Mr. Swigelaar. It is important to evaluate and discuss topics related to the fight against doping and to reflect on African solutions to doping problems in the African context. The workshop will be another opportunity to further promote the work being done to develop the capacity of anti-doping programs, while highlighting the importance of increased government investment in African anti-doping organizations, in addition to highlighting increased cooperation between African public authorities and the African Sports Movement. »
Commitment of athletes
WADA Athlete Engagement Team at African Games to implement ‘Team Play True’ campaign while raising awareness and promoting clean sport. The program also includes a significant legacy aspect through banners and promotional assets that will be left for engagement activities at future events held in the region.
The athlete-led team includes:
- Ganzi Semu Mugala (Uganda), President of the Uganda Olympians Association, Chairman of the Uganda Olympic Committee Sportsmen's Commission and Olympic swimmer;
- Ngon Ntama (Cameroon), president of the sports commission of the Cameroon Olympic and Sports Committee, vice-president of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and Olympic volleyball player;
- Khotso Mokoena (South Africa), President of the South African Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee Sportsmen's Commission and silver medalist in the long jump at the 2008 Olympic Games; And
- Nathalie Bashala (Democratic Republic of Congo), Head of WADA African Office
MEAL program
As part of its efforts to support Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) around the world, WADA staff members have supported the preparations for the event and will be present throughout the African Games to implement the Agency's legacy initiative, the MEAL program.
The MEAL program aims to support the development of anti-doping programs by major event organizations and other key stakeholders, while promoting clean sport in regions of the world where anti-doping activity is limited. During the African Games, the MEAL program will focus on:
- Support the capacity building of local staff responsible for sample collection (16 doping control officers [DCO], 20 chaperones, 23 educators) who will gain experience for their future participation in the national anti-doping program;
- Facilitate the participation of 15 international DCOs and other experts from the continent in order to increase know-how in the region and create bridges to future editions of the Games;
- Strengthen the structures and operations of the African Union Commission as a new signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code; And
- Deploy an advisory team during the event to support the implementation of the anti-doping program.
“The African Games will be the biggest MEAL event to date,” said Valentin Capelli, WADA Sports Movement Relations Manager and MEAL Program Manager. The objective of the program is to provide high quality support to the various stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Games anti-doping program. We will seek to build on the achievements of MEAL program which was implemented during three major events in 2023, notably the Francophonie Games, which were held in the Democratic Republic of Congo six months ago. Ultimately, the MEAL program will impact not only these African Games. It will lay a solid foundation and leave a legacy that will live on in future events in the region. The MEAL program has had a tangible impact at every event it has been implemented, and we look forward to similar success at the African Games. »
*The African Games were originally scheduled to take place in August 2023.
