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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.พ. 2025
- The African Military ‘Olympics’!
Are you aware that the 2nd version of the African military Olympics, known as the ‘African Military Games - Abuja 2024’, will be held in Nigeria in 3 weeks time?
Do you know that the MKO Abiola International Stadium, one of the most beautiful stadia on the African continent, will be renovated in time to host the biggest military games in African history?
From November 18th to 30th, 2024, Nigeria shall be host to athletes in 19 different sports from 44 African countries that have indicated interest to participate in the biggest assembly of athletes of military establishments in Africa.
With some 3 weeks to the games, 32 countries have already registered their athletes, with Ghana topping the list with 237. Other countries with expected large contingents, apart from the host, Nigeria, are Algeria 160, Kenya 60, Tunisia 48, and so on.
So far, over 2000 athletes and their officials have been registered to participate in the sports feast. More will join as the deadline for registration approaches.
Presently, there is an exciting new spirit and energy blowing through the African military establishments in their relationship with sport.
There is a new ‘Sherrif in town’, Chief of Defense Staff of Nigeria, a former athlete himself and first-class soldier, General Christopher Musa, as chief host, is driving an authentic sports revival in the military.
The last (and, incidentally, the first) African Military Games were held 22 years ago. He is breathing some oxygen into the moribund project by hosting it after 22 years in ‘coma’.
He went back into history to ‘drink’ inspiration from the success stories of a period when the military was a major stakeholder in the African sports architecture, producing elite athletes for various national teams.
Some of the first set of Nigerian medalists at the Commonwealth, All African and the Olympic Games, came from the military and para military institutions.
In Nigeria, for example, the military was actively involved in national sports development. They had a well-established tradition of good infrastructure, basic facilities, technical expertise and traditional discipline. Military teams around the country participated in various national competitions, and the military became active stakeholders with representation on the board of every sports federation in the country.
A revival of that culture is now imminent with a new ‘pilot’ in town in Nigeria, one who appreciates the negative effects of isolationism of the military from external sports.
The African Military Games were conceived to serve as a powerful diplomatic tool to strengthen ties and friendship amongst the military establishments of African countries and, by extension, amongst the governments and people.
It is known that Sport is a tool that can effectively engage and redirect the energy of youths to more productive ways, and away from anti-social conduct and activities.
In a new national re-orientation plan for Africans, the African Military Games can actively become a model of using sport to promote pan-Africanism, patriotism, unity, and friendships amongst all Africans, and serve also as a powerful weapon against the recruitment of youths into insurgency and terrorism.
It is no rocket science, therefore, to appreciate what the military can bring to the table of sports development, with the resources, personnel, facilities, discipline, and technical expertise it offers to produce athletes in many sports. especially when there is a deliberate effort and agenda to do so.
That’s why ‘Abuja 2024’ is very important. It provides an opportunity to reset the buttons of a proper sports development agenda through the military to impact Nigeria and the rest of the continent.
‘Abuja 2024’ will make a big statement if packaged and presented well, providing a good background for setting a possible new agenda for a serious relationship between sport, the military, the rest of Nigeria and Africa through sport.
The 2nd African Military Games start on November 18. All roads will lead to the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abuja.
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