US economy contracts in Q1 '25    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    EGP closes high vs. USD on Wednesday    Germany's regional inflation ticks up in April    Taiwan GDP surges on tech demand    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    UNFPA Egypt, Bayer sign agreement to promote reproductive health    Egypt to boost marine protection with new tech partnership    Eygpt's El-Sherbiny directs new cities to brace for adverse weather    CBE governor meets Beijing delegation to discuss economic, financial cooperation    Egypt's investment authority GAFI hosts forum with China to link business, innovation leaders    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's Gypto Pharma, US Dawa Pharmaceuticals sign strategic alliance    Egypt's Foreign Minister calls new Somali counterpart, reaffirms support    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Angola's Lourenço discuss ties, African security in Cairo talks    Egypt's Al-Mashat urges lower borrowing costs, more debt swaps at UN forum    Two new recycling projects launched in Egypt with EGP 1.7bn investment    Egypt's ambassador to Palestine congratulates Al-Sheikh on new senior state role    Egypt pleads before ICJ over Israel's obligations in occupied Palestine    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Egypt's Ministry of Health launches trachoma elimination campaign in 7 governorates    EHA explores strategic partnership with Türkiye's Modest Group    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Fourth Cairo Photo Week set for May, expanding across 14 Downtown locations    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egypt hosts World Aquatics Open Water Swimming World Cup in Somabay for 3rd consecutive year    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Topping the table
Published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 23 - 10 - 2003

Nigeria was declared the winner as the eighth All-Africa Games came to an end in Abuja. Eric Asmougha reports from Nigeria
Hosts Nigeria topped the medals table of the All- Africa Games with 85 gold, 90 silver and 56 bronze for 231 medals overall. Egypt, which had expected to finish third, ended up as runners-up with 218 medals -- 81 gold, 66 silver and 71 bronze while South Africa, winners of the previous two editions, dropped to third with 63 gold, 59 silver and 52 bronze for 174 medals.
The winner only emerged a few hours before the closing ceremony. By the end of the day, Nigeria had raked in more gold medals than Egypt in volleyball and weightlifting after a medal stand ratification by the organisers and the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa.
Algeria followed with 32 gold, 24 silver and 32 bronze. Tunisia won 30 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze while Cameroon won eight gold, four silver and 23 bronze medals.
Other gold medal winning countries were Senegal, Ethiopia, Kenya, Ghana, Botswana, Angola, Madagascar, Libya and Zimbabwe, Lesotho, the Ivory Coast, Niger, Tanzania, Cape Verde and the Central Africa Republic.
A total of 38 countries won at least one medal in the Games. Twenty-one won gold. Only five states won only bronze.
In the overall medals table, Nigerian men won 120 medals, women 108 and three were won in mixed events. Egypt won 132 medals in men's events, 85 in women and one in mixed events while South African men won 83, women 91 and none in mix events.
The two-week sports extravaganza ended with a calisthenics display and a show of cultural heritage at the magnificent Abuja Stadium.
Just like the opening, 13,000 children took centre stage in a colourful display of dance and shape formation. Over 1,000 martial art players entertained the spectators before the "Sango" man, who spewed fire from his mouth to light the Games' flame, extinguished it by covering the flame with his mouth.
Other activities that followed included a cultural dance by various Nigerian tribes and a display of fireworks marking the end of the Games. Messages were flashed: "friendship and unity" and "peace and progress".
It marked the first time Nigeria won the Games as host nation. The 1973 Games hosted by Nigeria was won by Egypt. Egypt also won the inaugural tournament in 1965 and the 1991 edition as host. South Africa won the 1995 and 1999 Games as host.
Weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, squash, gymnastics and taekwondo were among the events Egypt excelled in. Egypt topped the taekwondo and squash medal table with six gold, one silver and two bronze and four gold, two silver and two bonze respectively.
Egypt's largest gold medal haul was in weightlifting with 15 medals. The largest number of medals won by Egypt was in swimming with six gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals. Only three bronze medals were won in tennis.
The next All-Africa Games will be in Algiers, Algeria in 2007.


Clic here to read the story from its source.