- Date
- 11 May 2017
- Tags
- IOC News, Olympic News, 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 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.
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.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
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.
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.”