THE IOC Olympic Solidarity has promised to expand its annual assistance to Africa in the African National Olympic Committees (Anoca) meeting held in Kampala, Uganda over the weekend.

The Rwanda national Olympics Committee (Rnoc) Secretary General Freddy Somayire told Times Sport yesterday that the Olympic Solidarity assured the Anoca members that the assistance given to Africa member states will be expanded to ensure early preparations of both the Youth Olympic Games set for 2010 in Singapore and the London 2010 Olympic Games.

"The Olympic solidarity promised to increase its package by 25% of its annual package to every member state to enable a success in the preparation of both the Singapore and London Olympic Games,” Somayire said.

The IOC Olympic Solidarity director, Pedro Miro gave a detailed Solidarity plan for the continent for the next four years. Olympic Solidarity is a programme for sports development that includes talent identification, technical courses, developing of elite athletes and training sports administrators.

It exercises this responsibility in accordance with the specific programmes of technical financial assistance approved by the Olympic Solidarity Commission.

It assists NOCs with the efforts for the development of sport through programmes carefully devised to match their specific needs and priorities.

Meanwhile, officials of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) want the organisation to have an increased role in preparing team officials ahead all international games.

ANOCA is of the view that the preparation should be in various forms of training including seminars for officials like Chef de missions and team managers. Many African officials at major international games failed to execute their roles, thus imparting negatively on the continent.

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