The First Regional Conference of African Ministers on the Implementation in Africa of the Kazan Action Plan, hosted by the President of Madagascar, H.E. Andry Rajoelina, with the support of UNESCO, the African Union and International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, brought together ministers and senior officials responsible for physical education and sport, representing 34 countries from the continent, the International Olympic Committee, as well as national, regional and international experts.
Chaired by the Commissioner for Social Affairs of the African Union, Ms Amira Elfadil, the Conference stressed the important contribution that physical education and sport policies can make to the realization of the Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ministers adopted the "Antananarivo Recommendations", a set of priority measures for fostering physical education, physical activity and sport policies at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels. The recommendations stress inclusiveness, gender equality, youth participation, the valorization of traditional sports and games, as well as multi-stakeholder partnerships as critical components of comprehensive policies for human, social and economic development in Africa. They recognize the crucial role of schools to create healthy, active and competent citizens through physical education, physical activity and sport and the need to strengthen cooperation between public authorities in charge of sport, education, health and urban planning.
The Conference also recommends that the African Union recognizes H.E Mr Andry Rajoelina, President of the Republic of Madagascar, as a Champion of Quality Physical Education and the implementation of the Kazan Action Plan in Africa.
The Conference is a key step for the updating of the Sport Policy Framework for Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa, in alignment with the Kazan Action Plan.
