Daily Independent (Lagos)
Johnson Ayantunji and Tony Ezimakor
1 July 2009
Lagos/Abuja — Abuja, the nation's capital will be agog next week, as top personalities in the world of sports storm there for the 13th quadrennial General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), with the President of International Olympic Committee (IOC), Jacques Rogge, and Brazilian soccer legend, Arantes Des Nasmento a.k.a. Pele, leading the pack that includes the 53-member African Olympic fraternity.
Top on the agenda of the congress is the election of new officers that will steer the affairs of ANOCA for the next four years, as well as finding the way forward for sports in the continent.
Daily Independent gathered that with the future of the All Africa Games hanging in the balance, the Olympic body is expected to deliberate on the possible take over of the organisation of the pan African games, against startling backdrop that its owners; the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), may have slipped into coma.
Only recently, Zambia, slated to host the 2011 edition of the games, reportedly declined, citing poor funding for her actions.
Rogge, according to a statement by the Nigeria Olympic committee, is scheduled during his visit to have audience with President Umaru Yar'Adua, as well as lay the foundation stone of the new ANOCA Headquarters in Abuja.
It will be his second visit in six years, having graced the opening event of the 2003 All African Games hosted by Nigeria.
Leading the ANOCA team is its President, Lassana Palenfo, while the CEO of London 2012 Olympic Games, Sabastine Coe, is listed on the guest list.
According to the release by NOC image maker, Tony Nezienya, all four cities bidding to host the 2016 Olympics including Madrid, Chicago, Rio and Tokyo will be making presentations at the assembly.
The Princess of Spain, Governor-General of Tokyo and Mayors of Rio and Chicago, he said, would head their country's delegation.
President of IAAF, Lamine Diack, CAF President, Issa Hayatou, Guimilla Linberge, the representative of President of Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) are also listed.
Other important personalities to grace the occasion include Wilfrid Lemke, the UN Special Adviser on Sports to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Kii Moon.
The African Union (AU) will also be represented by Bience Gawanas.
In a related development, ANOCA has also announced that the six sports - baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby and softball - seeking to either rejoin the Olympic programme, and those with fresh applications, will also on the agenda in Abuja.
Ivorien, Lassana Palenfo, the outgoing ANOCA President, is seeking re-election.
Nigeria's Habu Gumel will also be running for the office of the Treasurer-General, while Olabanji Oladapo wants to be the Secretary-General.
Meanwhile, excited by the emerging image of Abuja as "the Olympic Capital of Africa", Minister/Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), Sani Ndanusa, has directed all sport commissioners in the states that share common borders with the FCT and Presidents all the National Sports Federations to attend the event slated for July 5 to 8.
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