Inaugural African School Games to leave paddle sport legacy in Algeria

Paddlers made their mark at the first-ever African School Games as Canoe Slalom and Canoe Ocean Racing helped to make history and establish a legacy in Algeria. Around 1,700 athletes participated across 25 disciplines in this historic edition of the Games as competition was staged in four cities in East Algeria. The African School Games was launched following a Memorandum of Understanding between the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the International School Sport Federation. With the support of the International Olympic Committee, the Games aim to prepare young African athletes for major international competitions. Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Suden and Tunisia were represented in the two paddle sport disciplines with 12 boys and six girls competing across Canoe Slalom and Canoe Ocean Racing. Algerian duo Mohamed Radik Beneddine and Aya Rebouh came out on top in the respective men’s and women’s Canoe Ocean Racing finals. Canoe Slalom was played out in the obstacle format used at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 as hosts Algeria struck twice again, with Ahmed Larbes and Maroua Yourmouche topping the podium in the men’s and women’s finals, respectively. The Canoe Ocean Racing competition saw paddlers utilise the 30 boats that had been donated by the International Canoe Federation and the Confederation of African Canoeing (CAC). The legacy project was proposed by the ICF's development department for the CAC to present to the National Federation. “These boats not only made the competition possible but will also remain in Algeria as a legacy of the Games, forming the basis of a long-term project to introduce and encourage Algerian youth to take up paddle sport,” said CAC Secretary General Ahmed Mahamoud Abdoulkader. “The inclusion of canoeing in multi-sport games in Africa is vital for increasing the sport’s visibility, inspiring young athletes, and encouraging more NOCs to engage in our activities – ultimately...

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