The African Olympic and Sports Movement strongly backs the international effort to fight climate change, co-championed by the UN and the IOC.
This is what came out of an international videoconference organised Monday by ANOCA and in which some 150 representatives of African NOCs and renowned environment and sustainable development experts participated. While opening deliberations, ANOCA President, Mustapha Berraf, noted that this is proof of a deep awareness among various continental sport stakeholders as to the fundamental role of sport in addressing the challenge of global warming and achieving the sustainable development goals.
Relying on this strong involvement of all members of the continental sports and Olympic family, President Berraf urged them to bear the message of this noble and vital humanitarian cause to the governments and people of their countries. This reassured the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gueterres, and IOC President, Thomas Bach, who sent messages of gratitude and support to the conference participants, emphasising the importance of a universal commitment in this thorny struggle for life.
The remarkable contributions by numerous speakers to the deliberations masterly coordinated by Bostang Tshenyego underscored the dangers of climate change that threaten the planet, and called on the international sports community to show the example with a responsible attitude and solidarity, in a bid to rise to the challenge of a healthy universe in a sustainable environment.
Given the resounding success of this maiden online ANOCA conference on the theme of climate change, Mustapha Berraf announced the organisation of a 2nd conference in 2023. This will bring together participants physically, in Hammamet (Tunisia), on the sidelines of the 2nd African Beach Games.
This first experience, which was widely supported by the IOC since it falls within the framework of IOC and UN guidelines, helped highlight the promotion of sport for sustainable development and environment friendliness. The ANOCA President and IOC member, Mustapha Berraf, launched an appeal to his colleagues without exception to involve all great athletes in this project of vital
interest to humanity.
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