The Minister of Youth and Sports, Mustapha Ussif, has disclosed that approximately 13,000 individuals will participate in the 13th African Games, slated to be hosted by Ghana from March 8 to March 23, 2024.
Speaking during his session of the Ministerial Meet the Press, Ussif provided a detailed breakdown of the participants, comprising athletes, technical officials, volunteers, and special guests.
“The 13th African Games is expected to attract over 13,000 participants from 54 African countries, including officials, athletes, diplomats, media, and volunteers,” he announced.
The Minister further elaborated that among the participants, there will be approximately 5,000 athletes, 3,000 volunteers, 3,000 technicians, and 200 guests from various African nations. He said Ghana is committed to providing for the needs of all participants throughout their stay, including accommodation, meals, transportation, medical care, and other essentials.
Mr Ussif also highlighted that the Games are anticipated to garner a global audience of over 2 billion individuals, who will follow the event through television, radio, and various virtual platforms worldwide.
Misconceptions
Addressing misconceptions surrounding the operational budget of $47 million allocated for the Accra 2023 African Games, Mr Ussif clarified that the funds cover various aspects of the competition’s organization.
He emphasized that the budget encompasses operations of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), including technical meetings, guidelines preparation, sensitization, management, accommodation, transportation, security, medical services, among others.
The Minister underscored that unlike football tournaments where accommodation costs for teams are covered by governing bodies, the host country is responsible for accommodating all participating football teams. Ghana will also cover the hotel expenses for all participating football teams as part of the budget.
Hosting the African Games, known for its multiple sports disciplines and extensive participation from African countries, is regarded as a costly endeavor. However, the benefits, including improved sports facilities and significant international exposure, outweigh the expenses, leaving host nations with lasting legacies in sports infrastructure development.
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