Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) brief National Olympic Committees (NOCs) on the implementation of the winter sport project

ABUJA, Nigeria, April 22, 2022/ — The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) (AfricaOlympic.com), subsequent to the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Gangwon Province, the Republic of Korea on 16 March 2022 in Cairo, Egypt, held a briefing meeting with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) on 20 April 2022 to brief them on the implementation of the winter sports project. The MOU, amongst others, will see the two organizations collaborate on the following:

1. Promoting the success of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics
2. Participating in the Winter Sports Support Project for Youth in Snowless Countries
3. Guiding African Youth Team to participate in the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics
4. Support for co-hosting Games by South-North with a mission of achieving ‘Peace Olympic’

The PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation has been appointed by Gangwon Province to run the winter sports support project for youth in snowless countries. In this regard, communication was also sent to all African NOCs to nominate athletes to participate in this project. The project will be implemented in phases, with the first two-week training camp scheduled for the end of May/June 2022 and another one in 2023. Athletes born between 2006-and 2009 are eligible to participate in the program.

They can be from any sport and are interested in taking up winter sports. Sports that are part of the project are Bobsleigh, Skeleton, Luge, Alpine Ski, Cross country, and Snowboarding. Over and above sports training, athletes will have education sessions on anti-doping, equality, human rights, and peace. All costs related to airfares, accommodation, meals, apparel, and equipment will be borne by the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation. 100 athletes will be part of the program, with 60 expected to come from the African continent.

ANOCA President Mr. Mustapha Berraf, said “ANOCA is pleased to work with the Gangwon Province, the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation and NOCs in the realization of this project. This will give African youth an opportunity to develop skills in other sports which were not previously associated with our continent. We will continue identifying key strategic partnerships with organizations and potential partners in the development of sport in the African continent.”

ANOCA will be represented in the project team by the IOC Member Mr William Blick and Technical Director Ms Ezera Tshabangu, while the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation will be represented by Mr. Arram Kim, Head of Education.