Representative of the country’s Olympic committee participated in the assembly in Algiers to explore further collaborations.
The Qatar Olympic Committee has participated in the 22nd General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ACNOA).
Mohamed bin Yousef Al-Mana, the First Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee attended the two-day conference in Algiers, which aims to bolster collaboration between the Gulf state and the national committees of the African continent, according to the Qatar News Agency.
The assembly in the Algerian capital aimed to set the mandate and vision for Africa’s Olympic movement as well as appointing the leadership for the next 2025-2029 term.
“This gathering in Algiers is a vital moment for the African Olympic Movement and the future of sports on our continent,” said ACNOA President Mustapha Berraf at the opening of the general assembly.
Qatar’s participation will add to the continent’s vision by contributing to the “development of sport at the international level,” the country’s national news agency added.
“QOC reflected its firm commitment to strengthening sports cooperation with the African continent […] as well as its keenness partner with the Olympic Committees on the continent,” QNA added.
African officials, athletes and coaches present
Representatives from 54 African National Olympic Committees attended the event, where current ACNOA president Berraf was reappointed to serve until 2029.
African athletes, coaches and leaders who made their mark at the Paris Olympics were also celebrated during the assembly.
Among those honoured was Algerian gold-medallist Imane Khelif, who is currently training in Qatar’s Aspire Academy in preparation for her debut World Championship title.
Officials from other Gulf states were also present, including World Athletics President Husain Al-Musallam of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia’s Prince Fahd bin Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, the president of the World Camelids Sports.
ACNOA decided to officially recognise Camelids sports in the conference, according to the Saudi Press Agency, marking a significant step for camel-based sports native to the MENA region.
Camelid sports, which include everything from racing, wrestling, and polo with camels to jumping over desert-native animals, were recognised by the Olympic Council of Asia just a month ago in February.
