The blast that rocked Algeria last week raised questions about whether the North African nation was safe enough to host the All-Africa Games Last week's bomb explosion, which killed at least 23 people and injured 160, jolted officials who are scheduled to go to Algeria for the All-Africa Games this summer, Inas Mazhar reports. Violent attacks have been on the increase in Algeria since the main Islamist rebel group, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), changed its name to the Al-Qada Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb in January. Since then there has been an increase in insurgent attacks after a period of calm. At least 200,000 people died in the Islamic insurgency, which began in 1992 after the army cancelled polls. Since the early 1990s, players and officials visiting Algeria have been escorted around the city by armoured personnel. Sports officials from some southern African countries have expressed reservations about the North African country when it was announced as the next host at the closing ceremony of Abuja 2003. But despite the bombings, most African countries are planning to send full-strength delegations to Algiers in July. There has been no change in the schedule which will remain as is unless the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa decides otherwise. If it deems it necessary, the council could either move the Games to another country or cancel the event altogether since it would be much too late to find a substitute venue. If all goes according to plan, after hosting the third edition in 1978, Algeria is getting ready, 27 years later, to stage the ninth edition of the biggest sports event on the African continent. From 11 to 23 July, almost 9,500 athletes and leaders are expected to be there from the 53 members of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). Athletics, badminton, basketball, boxing, cycling, football, gymnastics, handball, hockey, judo, rowing, squash, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, tennis, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling are expected to be on the agenda. In addition are three non-Olympic sports: chess, karate and kick boxing and three Paralympics sports -- wheelchairs, basketball and athletics. Baseball, softball and field hockey have been dropped by the hosts since these sports are hardly played in Algeria. The football draw was held in Cairo, confirming the schedule goes as planned. Eight teams will take part in the women's event . Group A includes Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia while Group B comprises Algeria, Senegal, Cameroon and Ghana. The men's event will see Ghana, the winner from South Africa and Botswana, Tunisia, and the winner from Gabon vs. Cameroon. Group B will host the winner of Senegal-Guinea, Algeria, Egypt and the winner of Zambia- Mozambique. When hosting the Games in July, Algiers, will become the first city in the continent to host the biggest sporting event twice. The first was held in 1978. Only Nigeria has hosted the event twice, but in different cities. The All-Africa Games was the brainchild of Pierre de Coubertin, renovator of the modern Olympic Games. But in the colonial context that prevailed at the beginning of the last century, all attempts to have the idea materialise idea failed. Four decades down the road and thanks to the Friendship Games attended by all French-speaking countries in Tananarivo (Madagascar) in 1960, Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 1961, Dakar (Senegal) in 1963, the maiden All-Africa Games opened in Brazzaville (Congo) in 1965. The second Games were held in 1973 in Lagos, Nigeria. Algiers hosted the third in 1978 and Nairobi the fourth in 1987. The fifth took place in Cairo in 1991, Harare, Zimbabwe hosted the sixth in 1995 and Johannesburg the seventh in 1999. The last edition was held in Abuja, Nigeria in 2003. The 10th edition will take place in 2011 in Lusaka, Zambia. Officially recognised by the IOC from its first edition, the concept of the All-Africa Games has since been perpetuated. Over various editions and despite postponements and difficulties confronted by some host countries, the Games today has become an Olympic gathering for the entire continent. For nearly half a century, South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria have been topping the medal standings. Recently, Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal and Tunisia have also captured the limelight. The All-Africa Games is not the only major event to be held in Algeria. Another major event will bring together the best athletes from Africa and Asia to celebrate Two Continents, One Spirit. From 28 July to 6 August 98 African and Asian athletes will square against one another in athletics, football, gymnastics, judo, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and shooting. By Inas Mazhar
