Olympic family descends on Ghana

Accra, June 14, GNA - Ghana will from Thursday, June 17-19 host the rest of the world's Olympic family at the 11th General Assembly of the National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) in Accra. The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) is to play host to over 300 delegates as well as participants from more than 60 countries from Africa, America, America, Asia and Oceania.

Among the dignitaries attending the meeting are Mr. Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr Maria Rana, President of the National Olympic Committees (NOC) and Mr Alpha Ibrahim Diallo, President of the Africa Olympic Committee (AOC). Over 53 African National Olympic Committee members made up of three delegates from each country would take part in the activities. Delegations of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and the 2012 Olympic Games Bid Cities of London, Moscow, Madrid, New York and Paris will also be in attendance. Also expected to attend the meeting are members of the Olympic Solidarity, World Anti Doping Agency, Supreme Council for Sports for Africa, Olympafrica Foundation and the ANOCA Commission.

Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah, Deputy Minister of Education and Sports said at a Press Conference on Tuesday that Mr Rogge as part of the programme for the four-day meeting will address a press conference on Saturday, June 18 whilst the opening ceremony will be addressed by President John Agyekum Kufuor and the IOC President. He said the IOC President to be accompanied by the presidents' and executive officers of ANOCA would later pay a courtesy call on the President whilst in the country. Mr Amoah said there would be a state banquet in honour of the IOC President where a state honour will be conferred on him for contributing to building a peaceful and better world through leadership of the Olympic movement.

Mr Rogge will also in turn decorate President Kufuor with the Highest Olympic Honour, the Order for Endeavouring to achieve the Olympic Goal. The Minister took the occasion to highlight other events of the meeting which he said includes election of ANOCA executives and the presentation of bids by the bid cities and would round up the meeting with visits to tourist sites in Accra on Sunday, June 19.