The African Collaborations Group (ACG) has welcomed the publication of a landmark report by the World Bank, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The 356-page report, "Unlocking the Potential of Sport in Africa," provides a comprehensive analysis of the economics of sport in Africa. It draws on survey data from nine African countries and a mapping of sport policies across nearly twenty governments.
The report highlights that Africa's sport economy represents less than 1% of the continent's GDP, compared to approximately 2.5% in Europe. This disparity represents a significant opportunity for growth. The report identifies the lack of integrated infrastructure as a primary barrier to unlocking this potential. It warns against the risk of "significant underutilisation" of stadiums built for major events, citing temporary jobs and localised economic returns.
The report's recommendations align with ACG's model for integrated sport and entertainment districts. It suggests developing legacy strategies from the preparatory phase, including impact and legacy plans before construction begins. The report also recommends connecting sport, tourism, transport, hospitality, media, security, and local entertainment to transform temporary visitor flows into lasting economic benefits.
The report advocates for public-private partnerships, where the public sector provides land, institutional framework, and accessibility objectives, while the private sector contributes expertise in construction, management, programming, and maintenance. This approach aims to promote local SMEs and structure a sport value chain close to local demand, retaining a greater share of the value created by sport in Africa.
The report also emphasises the importance of investing in training for sport-adjacent professions, such as infrastructure management, maintenance, events, security, audiovisual, marketing, and sports animation. These recommendations are central to ACG's Victory District model, which focuses on integrated sport and entertainment infrastructure.
Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, and Christophe Lecourtier, Director General of the AFD, co-introduced the report. The report is a collaborative effort, with contributions from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and Laureus Sport for Good.
The report's findings and recommendations validate ACG's model for integrated sport and entertainment infrastructure in Africa. ACG welcomes the report as a positive step towards realising the potential of sport in Africa. The report's recommendations provide a roadmap for stakeholders to unlock the potential of sport in Africa and create lasting economic benefits.
Key points
- The report highlights the need for integrated infrastructure to unlock the potential of sport in Africa.
- The report recommends public-private partnerships to promote local SMEs and structure a sport value chain close to local demand.
- The report emphasises the importance of investing in training for sport-adjacent professions.
