2011 All-Africa Games

AAG Infobox
Name = X All-Africa Games

Size = 200 px
Optional caption =
Host city = Lusaka, Zambia
Nations participating = 52 (projected)
Athletes participating =
Events = 26 sports
Opening ceremony = 15 July, 2011
Closing ceremony = 27 July, 2011
Officially opened by =
Athlete's Oath =
Judge's Oath =
All-Africa Torch =
Stadium = New Lusaka Stadium, Lusaka

The 10th All-Africa Games will take place in 2011 in Lusaka, Zambia. [ [http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=40146 SCSA approves Zambia's ability to host 2011 All-Africa Games] ] Lusaka's hosting will be only the third time the games will have been held in the southern part of the continent. Zambia was granted the right to host the Games in April 2005 after the withdrawal of other bidders at the meeting of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa met in Algeria. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/200504/27/eng20050427_182834.html Zambia to host 2011 All-Africa Games] ] Ghana had indicated interest in hosting the Games. [ [http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/artikel.php?ID=62161 Ghana Bids for 2011 AAG] ]

As a matter of national pride, the Zambians are grooming their youth and working on revitalising dilapidated athletic infrastructure throughout the nation. [ [http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/others/n214264558.shtml Zambians urged to remain focused on 2011 All-Africa Games] ] Sports Deputy Minister Richard Taima and COJA (Committee Olympique Jeux Africque) director-general, David Diangamo head the project. In February 2008, Taima said "We are generally on course and we should [be ready] before the 2011 All Africa Games," although NOC president Mirriam Moyo has expressed concern over the slow pace of preparations. [ [http://www.times.co.zm/news/viewnews.cgi?category=16&id=1208247285 2011 preps worry NOC] ] Diangamo is stressing the support of the entire nation is needed to successfully stage the Games. [ [http://www.zamnet.zm/newsys/news/viewnews.cgi?category=11&id=1216796196 "Be positive over 2011 Games,Be positive over 2011 Games"] ]

Venues and infrastructure

Three stadiums will be built in Lusaka, Ndola, and Livingstone for the event [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200602/22/eng20060222_244775.html People's Daily Online - Zambia to build three stadia for 2011 All-Africa Games] ] . The capacities of these stadiums will be 70,000, 50,000, and 50,000, respectively. The largest of these will be called New Lusaka Stadium, which will be next to the current stadium.

The country is planning to build an extra swimming pool at the land accommodating the Lusaka Olympic Swimming pool. It will be used for warm-up purposes during the games and would supplement another pool to be built under the auspices of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), adjacent to the Lusaka's Independence Stadium.

Other venues that will be used include the Mandebvu Olympafrica Centre, and the venue of the future Olympic Sport for Hope Centre. The OSHC is a multi-purpose complex financed by several partners; the Zambian government donated the land, the IOC will build the facilities, and more than half a dozen International Federations will offer expertise and finance the building for their own specific infrastructure around the core centre. The Centre is a test project to use it to prepare its athletes and as a competition venue. If successful, the plan will be used in other developing countries. [ [http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2175 Launch of the ‘Sport for Hope’ project in Zambia] ]

The government is also planning many other infrastructure improvements, such as building and expanding up to 600 hostels. [ [http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=34656 Hosting the 2011 All Africa games] ] Hostels at the University of Zambia (UNZA) main campus will be used as the official Games village. [http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90779/6356157.html Zambia releases fund for hosting 2011 All Africa Games] ]

Funding and organization

Preliminary funding of the games will top USD $230,000 to upgrade sports infrastructure. An IOC representative states $30 million is needed. [ [http://odp.luman.biz/Games?pg=15&mode=asc Zambia needs at least $30 mln for All-Africa Games: IOC expert] ]

Another source says the cost will be 446 billion kwacha (US $111.5 million). 51.5 million dollars would be channeled towards infrastructure while the rest would go into administrative costs. The local organising committee (LOC) is multi-sectoral, including members from the private sector as well as officials from Tourism and Education ministries, for example. It is also expected that the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) would partner with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) and the private sector would also lighten the financial burden. The government is considering tax incentives to entice companies to support the Games. [ [http://english.people.com.cn/200706/27/eng20070627_388085.html Zambian government nods 2011 All-Africa Games] ]

Events

The All Africa Games will host 26 sports disciplines from around the African continent and includes among others, football, swimming, squash, badminton, volleyball, basketball, tennis, hockey, baseball and softball, handball, athletics, and boxing. As of July 2008, Chess is being added again to the schedule. [ [http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/4-tournaments/3072-chess-is-again-in-all-africa-games-2011 Chess is again part of the All Africa Games 2011] ] Rowing has also experienced a revival, with events possibly being held at Mindolo Dam in Kitwe. [ [http://www.memeza.com/story.php?title=Zambia_rowing_revival Zambia rowing revival] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.anoca.info/ Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa website]