The leadership of African Union Sports Council (AUSC) and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), has commended Ghana for so far hosting a smooth 13th African Games without encountering any challenges.aa
At a joint press conference today held on the margins of the 13th African Games in Accra, the Coordinator for African Union Sports Council (AUSC), Dr. Decius Chipande stressed that, their collaboration with UNOCT’s Global Sports Programme, aimed to leverage sport-values for PVE and promote good practices on major sporting event security policies, as well as the development of youth fora, such as the one done in Accra in November last year, where young leaders from 20 AU Member States, officials and representatives from UN entities, the AUSC, the 13th African Games LOC, the AU Youth Division, as well as the Ghanaian National Peace Council, and the National Youth Authority, gathered to discuss the power of sports and major sporting events to
“Such initiatives underscore youth’s substantive role from the initial stages of bidding, planning, executing and post-event procedures in the context of sporting events, as well as their unique potential to meaningfully engage vulnerable populations and instil resilience to violent extremism”.
He averred that, building on the effective synergy already established, the AUSC and UNOCT have prepared a joint work plan for activities to be implemented in 2024.
“This plan encompasses the delivery of technical assistance and guidance on the use of sport to foster peace and resilience and its safeguard, in response to requests from African Union Member States, youth leaders, sport federations and associations and civil society organizations”.
The joint workplan he emphasis as living proof of the good will of the AU and the fulfilment of its mandate through meaningful inclusion and engagement of women and youth, to foster resilience across the African continent, the promotion of gender mainstreaming, as well as intercultural and interreligious understanding, as tools to prevent violent extremism and secure major sporting events.
According to Dr. Chipande, similar opportunities would be provided by the upcoming subregional games to be organized by the different AUSC Regions, which is to offer more targeted and personalized interventions.
“Thanks to international partners, such as the UN through its Office of Counterterrorism, for the collaboration towards using sports to contribute towards Agenda 2063. of the AU Agenda 2063”.
The African Games among other things he stated, bring together athletes from across the continent, putting the spotlight not only on athletic talent, but also celebrating African culture and heritage, and promoting positive values solidarity, and integration.
Dr. Decius Chipande, further revealed that, the games offer a crucial and effective platform for fostering youth inclusion, gender equality, and social cohesion, all of which are key priorities for making the Agenda 2063 aspirations of “The African We Want” a tangible reality.
“Through the African Union Sport Council (AUSC), established in 2016, the AU promotes sport development and sports for development in Africa with a focus on youth, safeguarding, gender equality, and regional integration, supporting programmes that use sports to promote the aspirations of the “Africa We Want.”
The AU he mentioned, prioritizes a people-driven vision of development, which relies especially on its women and youth, as well as the AU Sports Council mandate, to promote gender equality in sport.