The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2023 African Games has today, Wednesday March 24, 2021, held an interactive session with a team of Electronic Sports Writers at the Accra Sports Stadium to provide them with updates on how their mandate is being executed.
The 9-member Committee, chaired by Dr. Kwaku Ofosu Asare briefed the team on their mandate, scope of operation and their activities so far in making sure the dream of hosting the 13th Edition of the African Games in 2023 becomes a reality.
The Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Ofosu Asare apologized to the team for not interacting with them earlier and also for not visiting them at their various offices but rather calling for the meeting.
He explained the mandate of the committee which is to organize and host the event and to convert a 50,000 capacity stadium which will be built for the games into a University for Sport for Development.
“With our mandate to organize the African Games, we can’t do it without the E-Sports Media in the country. That is why we gathered here today to brief you on our mandate, and to create a relationship that will give you access to us for any information you may need,” Dr. Ofosu-Asare said.
“We have a mandate to Organize and Host the African Games and after the hosting of the games, we are to transform the facilities into a University and this University will be a University of Sport and Development.
“We are to take care of material preparations and the organization of all the sporting events. We are to organize culture events and all that.
“The Africa Union mandates us to use the games for African Sports Movement and by that promote the ideals of Peace, Unity, Excellent Olympism and Olympism in sports.
“We are going to build 50,000 capacity multipurpose Olympic stadium at Borteyman which will be use to host the Games,” he added.
The respected lecturer and seasoned sportscaster also noted that Team Ghana is set to be ready by the end of 2021 and their major target is to place a ‘realistic’ 4th on the medal table.
He added that, converting the 50,000 capacity stadium into the University for Sport and Development is to ensure the sustainable use of the facility and to avoid making it a white elephant after the games.
Despite not given a specific date for the start of the games in 2023, Dr. Ofosu Asare hinted that the games are likely to take place in either August/September or November/December in 2023.
The healthy interaction between the E-Sports Writers and the LOC provided a question and answer session to clear doubts and some misconceptions about the operations of the LOC.
Members of the LOC present at the meeting included Rex Brobbey a former Olympian and an accomplished sports event organizer, consultant Dr. Emmanuel Owusu Ansah, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the LOC and the leader of Team Ghana, Sports journalist Dan Kweku Yeboah, Communication Consultant Alhaji Ahmed Osman and Miss Joyce Datsa, a Sports Administrator.
The 13th edition of the African Games, formerly known as the All Africa Games, would involve 54 participating countries and 25 sporting disciplines.
The 2023 Africa Games will also serve as qualifier for the various disciplines for the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris, France.
