FINA, ANOCA Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Improve Aquatics in Africa
FINA and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) have signed a memorandum of understanding with concrete goals to improve aquatics on the continent.
The agreement was signed in Cairo, where ANOCA president Mustapha Berraf of Algeria met with FINA president Husain Al-Musallam. The meeting was held at Egypt’s NOC headquarters, and it culminates an extended tour of the continent by the FINA president, who is nearing the end of his first year in charge. The Kuwaiti president campaigned on a promise to make more resources available to African swimmers and their national federations, and the African Swimming Federation (CANA) was one of the first to throw its votes behind Al-Musallam.
Among the stipulations of the MoU is increasing accessibility to facilities with a goal of improving the continent’s performances in international events across all disciplines. It emphasizes programs like exchanges and training, presumably for both coaches and swimmers, and the application of the FINA Scholarship Program to support elite swimmers.
FINA’s involvement in Africa appears to be on parallel tracks. With its long standing “Swimming for All – Swimming for Life” program, the governing bodies hopes to bring access to life-saving learn-to-swim instruction. That includes an emphasis on building pools, particularly Olympic-size ones, in countries that lack them.
On the elite side of the spectrum, FINA and ANOCA hope to expand opportunities for promising swimmers to reach the Olympic/world championship level. That effort features scholarships, training partnerships and coaching development. FINA has pledged significant monetary investment in the continent, with training centers to be created in Tunisia, South Africa and Senegal.
Al Musallam has been touring Africa over the last month, visiting countries like Tanzania and Uganda. (He was accompanied for part of the trip by Dutch stars Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Ferry Weertman.)