ALGIERS- Abderrahmane Hammad took office as head of the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee (COA), on Thursday, during a ceremony which took place at the headquarters of the Olympic body in Ben Aknoun (Algiers).
In particular were present the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sid-Ali Khaldi, the Secretary of State in charge of elite sport, Salima Souakri, presidents of national sports federations and members of the executive board of the COA.
“I renew my warm thanks to the members of the general assembly of the COA for the confidence placed in my modest person at the head of a sports institution which conveys the values of fraternity and peace between the actors of the sports movement. I will ensure all the necessary means for better preparation of our athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, “said the bronze medalist in the high jump at the 2000 Sydney Olympics in a brief speech.
While thanking the interim president, Mohamed Meridja, for the work accomplished at the head of the Olympic body during the last four months, Hammad called on all sports federations to cooperate more to meet the aspirations of athletes who are preparing to participate in the various qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo Games, postponed to August 2021.
“We are going to work in close collaboration with the public authorities for the good of Algerian athletes who aspire to participate in the next Olympic Games and the Mediterranean Games-2022 of Oran.
For his part, Minister Khaldi congratulated the new president on his election at the head of the Olympic body during a general assembly “which was organized in a calm atmosphere”.
APS
