ANOCA Launches $2 Million Athlete Support Programme for LA2028
The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has unveiled its Athlete Support Programme aimed at helping Africa’s top athletes prepare for and qualify for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
The programme will provide financial, technical and logistical support to elite African athletes, allowing them to focus fully on high-performance preparation.
ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf underlined the programme’s importance, saying it will strengthen Africa’s presence on the global Olympic stage and inspire future generations. He also called on African states to increase their support for athletes and thanked Olympic Solidarity for its ongoing scholarship contributions, noting that joint efforts will maximize Africa’s chances of success at LA2028.
ANOCA has allocated a $2 million budget for scholarships, with the programme set to begin in March 2026. All African National Olympic Committees (NOCs) with eligible athletes are encouraged to participate to ensure their athletes receive adequate preparation and support.
Athletes in the programme will benefit from access to quality training facilities, expert coaching, medical and clinical care, insurance, accommodation, allowances, and partial travel support for Olympic qualification events. Priority sports include athletics, boxing, judo, swimming, taekwondo, weightlifting and wrestling, selected based on Africa’s historical performance. Other Olympic sports may be considered if athletes meet ANOCA eligibility criteria.
The impact of the scholarship programme was evident at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, where 49 supported athletes achieved a 67% qualification rate. Eight athletes won a total of 10 medals, with Africa particularly excelling in athletics, securing two gold and three silver medals.
Building on this success, ANOCA says the LA2028 programme will place African athletes in optimal conditions to deliver strong performances, reinforcing the positive impact of its continued investment in African sport.
