The goal of the symposium is to establish a meaningful dialogue on the interface of
sports, youth and Africa. The range of topics varies vastly and covers Africa since
pre-colonial times. The presentations explore the relationship between sports and broader
themes such as politics, culture, gender, conflict, media and development. The
multi-disciplinary approach allows scholars and practitioners to explore multiple
dimensions of the same topics and themes.
This is merely a first step in addressing the wasted potential of sports on the continent
and in bridging the gap that exists between scholarly research and practitioners in Africa.
The organizers of the symposium sincerely hope that the dialogue will be pursued beyond
this initiative, and wish you find the symposium not only intellectually engaging, but a
source of inspiration for future scholarly and practical endeavors.