IOC President visits OlympAfrica centre in Mozambique

IOC President Thomas Bach took a trip out of Maputo to visit one of the OlympAfrica centres supported by the IOC on Thursday. The centre in Boane, an hour from Mozambique's capital, provides sports and recreational facilities and training for thousands of local children.

The centre in Boane is one of 44 throughout the continent, and also provides basic healthcare and educational facilities for more than 2,000 local children. It even provides employment for the local economy, with a local business producing and selling school uniforms.

IOC/Greg Martin

The IOC President was able to see the children in class, and played football with a group of them. The centre, which has plans to expand to include a sports training centre, has basketball courts, football pitches and a basic athletics running track.

This visit went straight to my heart. I was so impressed by what I saw in the hospital, in the classroom, in the workshop and, of course, on the playing fields. Thomas Bach IOC President

Earlier, he visited the maternity and health centre. Whilst there, the President was able to visit one young mother with her day-old baby, who was born at the centre. The mission of Olympafrica centres, here in Mozambique, is also to provide basic healthcare.

Throughout the visit, the President was accompanied by the IOC Member in South Africa, Sam Ramsamy, the NOC President, Marcelino Macome, as well as the Mayor of Boane and the District Governor.

IOC/Greg Martin

After visiting the OlympAfrica centre, President Bach said: “This visit went straight to my heart. I was so impressed by what I saw in the hospital, in the classroom, in the workshop and, of course, on the playing fields. It is great to see how sport is changing people.”