ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf said, "This year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched the Olympic Agenda for Artificial Intelligence. This is a major step forward, a revolution that should allow us to take our technological initiative to the next level.  "Sport in Africa must embrace this change. We must be at the forefront of this revolution. The Olympic Agenda for Artificial Intelligence will undoubtedly lead us in this direction, pending a global strategy on AI and sport. We will have to navigate between the opportunities and snags of Artificial Intelligence. 

"It will be necessary to take full advantage of this technology. The IOC is leading the way in demonstrating how AI can impact sport and how the global Olympic and Sport Movement aims to promote the responsible use of AI. I call on all 54 African National Olympic Committees to get on board. Some NOCs have set up platforms to identify emerging talent and to train and prepare athletes. This innovative approach should serve as an example.

"With AI, we will use digitalisation to develop sport and give young Africans more room to develop and opportunities to break out of the vicious circle of poverty and misery. AI should be an additional asset for us, not something to worry about or even fear. We are blowing with the wind, but without losing sight of our African and Olympic values, which will go hand in hand with this adaptation to AI.

"It is a game-changing challenge, a potential that will transform sport, from athlete training to judging and refereeing, together with the fight against doping, spectator experience and solidarity in sport. The African Olympic Movement must take full advantage of AI, understand the risks involved and harness all its potential. 

"The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where our athletes will be competing this year, have incorporated into their organisation a whole range of environmental issues and, more importantly, the strategic shift towards digitalisation of all organisational and sporting approaches to ensure their uniqueness, as requested by the IOC. 

"We live in the age of speed. The rapid development of digital technologies, and AI in particular, depends on our ability to harness this new intelligence and use it as a driver of development. Every NOC is a driver of development and must continue to make progress in this area. I urge you to follow the Olympic Agenda for AI to understand its importance. It is together that we will face the daunting challenges of tomorrow," concluded Mustapha Berraf.