Cameroon-organized African Athletic Championship plagued by poor conditions
By Biwah Bryan
The 2024 Senior African Athlete Championship is off to a rocky start, making news for all wrong reasons with several top athletes pulling out of the competition due to poor organization.
The event being held in Douala has been criticized for its lack of proper transportation, inadequate facilities, and poor topography for the athletes’ respective disciplines.
Some of the most notable withdrawals from the competition include Cote d’Ivoire’s Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, and South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi who did not start (DNS) their respective races.
Marie Josée Ta Lou-Smith complained of discrimination, citing that other teams were transported with security escorts while others used taxis. Similarly, Nigerian athlete Chukwuebuka Enekwechi who won gold in the shot put complained that the topography was not level for the event.
In addition, some athletes have expressed dissatisfaction with the use of outdated equipment, as officials were seen signaling the start of races with a wooden starter clapper instead of modern starter pistols.
The issues with this event raise serious concerns about the management of major sporting competitions on the African continent. Many of the athletes who have pulled out of the event have voiced their frustrations on social media, calling for better treatment of athletes and more investment in sports infrastructure.
The poor organization has garnered significant attention in numerous countries over the past two days. However, Ghana has been chosen to host the 2026 African Athletics Championships, winning a 12 to 3 vote against Botswana in the bid to host the 2026 edition.
