All Africa Games: Are they worthwhile?

The 8th All Africa Games are taking place in Abuja, Nigeria this week.

Nigeria has spent millions of Naira on a brand new stadium for the games with an athletics village for competitors such as South Africa, Morocco and Cameroon.

Africans are competing in sports ranging from the ever popular football and athletics to the less popular taekwondo and gymnastics.

But the games come at the end of a busy athletics season in Europe leaving a number of top African sports people including Mozambique's Maria Mutola not participating.

So, are the games worth the time and expense put into their preparations?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of views we have received:

A showcase for the athletic skills of African youth Fred Asare, USA

I am cautiously optimistic. If anything, a showcase for the athletic skills of African youth is more desirable for the continent as a whole, than the little "boy-soldiers" the world has come to see. For Nigeria and Nigerians, it is a more sensible use of precious currency than a space programme.
Fred Asare, USA

I think the games are a good forum for all of Africa's athletes.
Nazz Booysen, South Africa

I think that this is a good thing. Sporting competitions have proven to bring people together in the spirit of competition and good will.
Margaret, USA

We need something to lighten up our spirits Lilian Kimeto, Kenya

Africa is always tense with wars, coups and all manner of conflict. We need something to lighten up our spirits and bring celebration even in the midst of gloom. The All Africa Games do exactly that. These games also provide an opportunity for people from the entire continent to meet and share experiences and interact freely.
Lilian Kimeto, Kenya

Nigeria needs an awareness campaign. This is a great opportunity for all to come in and see what makes Nigeria tick. Nigeria has a lot of great tourist sites and culture to show case to the world. I think it's worth it.
Victor Agaviezor, Nigeria resident in Germany

Millions spent on a stadium when most of the masses starve in Africa. Nigeria is known to be one of the most corrupt African countries. There are a lot of problems on the continent so give the money for food and health
Priscilla Timothea Lambert, UK/ZIM

Africa should distinguish between its needs and wants Joe, Ethiopia

As there are endless wants, Africa should distinguish between its needs and wants. Then resources should be spent according to the priorities of these needs. It is not the right time for Africans to spend millions of dollars on stadiums while hundreds of millions are dying of hunger and all kinds of diseases such as Aids and malaria. I don't say that sports are not good for Africans but there should be priorities: bread and health first.
Joe, Ethiopia

Practice does make perfect, so let our athletes get more time practicing among themselves, so come the Olympic or world games they will break all the records available
Milton Pratt, USA/Sierra Leone

Essential in building a better partnership between each country Manuel, Canada

I think events such as these are essential in building a better partnership between each country. Here in North America we have the Pan-American games and it gives us the opportunity to get to know our fellow citizens. That's what sport is all about.
Manuel, Canada

I am not absolutely sure foreign-based athletes will not participate because they are tired. I am more inclined to think they may not participate because of the type of rewards to be reaped from taking part in the games. Otherwise, they (the games) are worth it.
Henry Njapau, Zambia

The All Africa Games have always remained the main avenue where our unsung heroes and heroines emerged from the continent. Arguing that the players have just had a busy season in Europe does not hold water. What about those who did not participate in the European Games? Should they be left to rot?
Johnson Osei, Canada

The All African Games, if well organised, not only will bring economic prosperity to the country hosting them, most participants will also have the opportunity of showcasing their talents, consequently selling themselves to the world.
Philip Mogbock, USA

An important continental sporting event Sigismond Wilson, Sierra Leone/USA

The All Africa Games is an important continental sporting event that is expected to provide a training ground for the continent's sporting personalities. However, its popularity in recent years has dwindled. I think, as in soccer, the world athletics body in collaboration with the Africa Athletics Association should re-orientate the sporting calendar wherein the African athletes will have a suitable duration to participate in such activities.
Sigismond Wilson, Sierra Leone/USA

The games are worth it. Africa is moving in the right direction of sports, economy, and political unity. Keep the good work going and the road to unity.
Romeo Ezike, USA

These multinational, African games are not staged primarily for economic or profit- making reasons, but, rather, as a means and instrument of unity, celebration of African, multi-tribal, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual diversity. In a continent torn apart by incessant, endemic and divisive ethnic-religious feuds, sports, athletic and cultural events can bring African youths and the leaders of tomorrow together, who, thereafter, will incorporate the spirit and principles of Pan-Africanism for onward transmission to their countries and future generations.
Igonikon Jack, USA

The games are very important to the development of sport in Africa. These type of events will give young people something to work towards as the bigger games such as the Olympics often intimidate young Africans. This will serve as a nice stepping stone to larger meetings.
Sunday Adeyemi Adepegba, UK/ Nigerian

The bad timing at the end of a busy athletics season in Europe ends up diminishing the quality of competition Niyi Olaloku, Lagos, Nigeria

The All Africa Games is just another jamboree cum white elephant project in Africa! The bad timing at the end of a busy athletics season in Europe ends up diminishing the quality of competition. Top athletes either stay away or are not at their best due to fatigue. In addition, Nigeria hosts Africa while the citizens are still grappling with poverty, petrol scarcity, poor infrastructure, blatant corruption in high places, gross insensitivity and disconnection of government policies with the governed! How on earth will the hungry and impoverished common man be able to connect with the All Africa Games?
Niyi Olaloku, Lagos, Nigeria

This is surely the same argument as the one about whether London should bid for the Olympics. Yes, I know it's going to cost money that could (always) be spent on other things, but at least it will provide the infrastructure to build a new generation of sporting starts in Nigeria. Let's give some of these people the opportunity to improve their sporting abilities, then move on to competing on an international stage.
James Tandy, UK

I agree with Ali, the games can help to unite a continent destroyed by years of colonialism. The quality of competition is not relevant, it is the prospect of social awareness and pan-Africanism for, at least, a little while.
Michael Horowitz, USA

I believe sport as the most neutral of all international events concerning politics, religion, race, gender, and so on will help a shattered and torn continent and its people by uniting them to support one another.
Ali Siddiqui, Canada