Photo: Diamond Geezer

Olympic Stadium.

It is within an initiative by the Association of African Olympic Committees to project the image of the continent.

Despite the dismal performances of African Athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games, African culture is scoring points at the African Olympic Village. Organised alongside the games, the cultural village is an initiative of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), to serve as a window on the continent's multi-facet culture.

Over twenty countries; Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Central Africa, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, and Uganda are participating in the cultural jamboree.

The village a stone throw from Hyde Park comprised, Africa House, which is the official reception venue exclusive to ANOCA and African NOCs present in London; Africa Land which is a wide exhibition ground fitted with stands, each covering an area of 16m2, a public restaurant, with night shows scheduled throughout the event.

For better coordination, each country has a day to showcase her tourists and economic potentials, boast their distinct cultures through assortments of artistic expressions, such as dance, artwork, and films. So far more than ten African countries including Cameroon have x-rayed African arts and culture to a dynamic audience, exhibited a taste of African culture through fashion shows, folk music concerts and masses of art to tourists from around the globe, According to General Lassana Palenfo, an official of ANOCA. "The goal of participating in sporting events such as the Olympic may be to win, or break a record. In the game of cultural exchange, everyone comes out a winner"

Two weeks ago (28 July 2012), the inauguration ceremony was graced by the presence of dignitaries, amongst them Ivorian Head of State, Alassane Ouattara; Algerian Prime Minister, Ahmed Ouyahia; Her Majesty Princess Lalla Amina of Morocco; the First Vice President of the IOC, Thomas Bach; the former Governor General of Canada, Michaelle Jean and several African sports ministers and ambassadors.

It should be noted that, the town of London is also playing host to a number of other Olympic Villages, such as the Brazilian, Czech, French, Jamaican, Qatari and Russian.