EXCLUSIVE: ANOCA President Preparing For Election Challenge

(ATR) Association of African National Olympic Committees President Lassana Palenfo is drafting a manifesto in an attempt to remain in charge of the organization, Around the Rings has learned.

Palenfo has been in charge of ANOCA since his election in 2005. He has since served three mandates, and previously said the 2013-17 quadrennial would be his last in charge.

During his time in charge ANOCA finally passed a new constitution, suffered a major scandal with the African Village at the London 2012 Olympics, and saw a record number of 45 medals from African countries at Rio 2016.

Palenfo told ATR that he has created a "strategic development plan," that he expects to make public very soon for his reelection campaign. He says the next four years must see ANOCA consolidate itself for "genuine cohesion of overall development."

"The achievements of the past mandate give me the strength and energy to continue to serve our stakeholders with the same selflessness," Palenfo said. "If I am elected I intend to launch major innovative projects to give ANOCA a new dimension. We intend to launch a new platform."

The election for ANOCA President will be the first under the new constitution at the 2017 General Assembly in Djibouti. Unlike in 2013, Palenfo will face a challenger in Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee President Hamad Kalkaba. Kalkaba told ATR last month his platform for the campaign is "[rebuilding] trust in all sport on and off the field of play, in competition and in administration."

After announcing his intention to run, Kalkaba said he did not know if he would face a challenger in Djibouti from May 9-12. Palenfo said, when discussing his intention to run, that "when participating in a sporting event, there must be two participants at minimum."

Palenfo says that his manifesto will work to "further drive ANOCA to the forefront of the international sport scene." He says that the body must continue to invest in the youth of Africa through the continued development of OlympAfrica centers built around the continent. So far 40 such centers have been built.

"The 45 medals that Africa won at the end of the Rio Olympic Games are just some of the many achievements that we intend to make more fruitful in order to give our continent its place on a global scale," Palenfo added. "Arrangements are already being made at various levels to raise more resources for our athletes and, in the process, to better prepare for the Tokyo Olympics."

Another step to develop for Tokyo will be taken through the 2019 African Games in Equatorial Guinea. Palenfo says ANOCA is working with the Union of African Sports Confederations to make the African Games qualifiers for Tokyo 2020. He says talks have been going with international federations to ensure this.

"This prospect will surely attract renowned athletes and print a market value for this major continental event likely to attract sponsors and ensure their sustainability," Palenfo said.

Written by Aaron Bauer

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.