Algiers – The inaugural edition of the African School Games will bring together 1,700 athletes (1,000 boys and 700 girls) from July 26 to August 5, 2025, across four Algerian cities: Constantine, Annaba, Sétif, and Skikda. The National Organizing Committee confirmed that preparations are nearly complete for the grand opening ceremony scheduled for Saturday evening at 8:00 PM at the 19 May 1956 Stadium in Annaba.In addition to the athletes, the event is expected to welcome approximately 2,500 delegates, along with members of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), representatives from 50 African National Olympic Committees, their secretaries-general, referees, and observers.Due to limited participation in some sports, the technical committee has decided to cancel four disciplines: volleyball, breakdancing, skateboarding, and BMX. As a result, athletes will compete across 21 sports disciplines.Main Sports and Participation Overview:In Annaba: Athletics (263 athletes), 3×3 Basketball (115), Beach Canoeing (19), Beach Rowing (31), Boxing (70), Cycling (55), Fencing (93), Judo (117), Tennis (43), Wrestling (75), and Men’s Football (177).In Constantine: Artistic Gymnastics (28), Table Tennis (25), Equestrian (49), and parts of the football tournament.In Sétif: 5×5 Basketball (75), Badminton (75), Wushu Kung Fu (44), Swimming (115), and Taekwondo (92).In Skikda: Beach Volleyball (42) and Handball (97).Participating Countries by Discipline:Athletics leads with 38 participating countries, followed by Judo (28), 3×3 Basketball (21), Swimming and Taekwondo (19 each), Tennis and Table Tennis (15), Boxing and Badminton (14), Cycling, Fencing, and Beach Volleyball (11), Wrestling (10), Football (9), Beach Canoeing, Equestrian, and Wushu (8), Gymnastics (6), and finally Rowing, Handball, and 5×5 Basketball (5 each).Delegations began arriving on Monday, with the arrival of key officials and invited sports figures expected to be completed before the opening ceremony.The event will also attract significant media coverage, with 303 accreditations granted to national media and 48 to international outlets, with numbers expected to rise as the opening nears.Under the High Patronage of the PresidentHeld under the high patronage of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the African School Games is a joint initiative by ANOCA and the International School Sport Federation (ISF), following an agreement signed during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.The goal of the inaugural edition is to serve as a platform for developing school sports across Africa and fostering cultural and athletic exchange among African youth. It aims to offer a model sporting environment and a launching pad for the continent’s future champions.Algeria was selected as host thanks to its proven track record in organizing major international sports events and its modern infrastructure, making it an ideal venue for such a continental competition.The President’s patronage reflects Algeria’s strong commitment to sports development in Africa and its aspiration to play a central role in promoting Olympic and sporting values continent-wide.ANOCA hopes this first edition will establish a lasting tradition, making the African School Games a regular fixture in the continental sports calendar.Beyond the competition, the event seeks to leave a lasting legacy for African youth sports, encouraging governments and institutions to invest more in physical education and school sports.Last updated: Thursday, July 24, 2025, 14:50Keywords: Sports, Africa, Algeria, African School Games
