2023 African Games: Could future Olympic stars lose out as organisers row?
The African Games begin in Accra, Ghana on Friday – but even before the starting pistol is fired on the 13th edition of the Games, there are those who worry their race could be run.
A multi-sport event featuring 16 sports, they were first held in Congo-Brazzaville in 1965.
Formerly known as the All-African Games, down the years they have provided some of the continent’s biggest names with an early platform to show off their talents on an international stage.
Since 2019, the Games have also acted as a way to qualify for the Olympics – but a row between organisers could now see that particular carrot taken off the menu, while concerns about financial viability have also marred the build-up to Ghana 2023.
“It was one of the competitions where people could really see my talent in Africa,” said the continent’s fastest woman, Marie-Josee Ta Lou, recalling her 100m and 200m gold medals as a 17-year-old in DR Congo in 2015.
“It was one of the competitions where I showcased my talents and let people know: ‘hey, I’m here’.”
A year before winning Olympic gold, swimming great Chad le Clos claimed five golds for South Africa at the 2011 African Games in Mozambique.
“For someone up and coming, I’d say they’re number one,” said Le Clos, who was 19 at the time.
So why is the future of the showpiece uncertain, how might it change and what are the implications for athletes attempting to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Ta Lou and Le Clos?
By Eshlin Vedan and Ian Williams
