The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Council met yesterday in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Several important resolutions were adopted at the end of the meeting.
The Council encourages the amendment of the World Athletics (WA) Constitution and supports the principle of term limits for Council members and Area Association Presidents, but rejects retro-activity in the implementation of the new reform.
The Council recognizes the challenges faced by African athletics, primarily those related to the withdrawal of funding for African Athletics Development Centers, FIFA's decision to remove athletics tracks from football stadiums, the failure of its member federations to comply with CAA regulations and procedures, the very low representation of Africans in WA's governing bodies, and the change of nationality of our top athletes. With a view to finding strategies and solutions to address these challenges, the Council mandates the CAA President to engage in discussions with the authorities of WA, FIFA, CAF, our National Federations and the governments of African countries to raise awareness about maintaining the creation of athletics tracks in our various countries, in order to maintain the exceptional results that honor our continent and African youth.
The Council approves the meetings between the leadership of the CAA and that of other area associations, more particularly the Asian Athletics Association, and mandates the CAA President to continue them with a view to developing African athletics at all levels.
As part of the WA Constitution revision process, the Council proposes, in light of recent developments and the need to modernize and make the governance of world athletics more efficient and democratic, a reform aimed at strengthening equitable representation of continental associations within the WA Council according to a fixed quota per continent. The Council therefore recommends that WA Council members be elected directly from their Area associations. Only the President of World Athletics would continue to be elected at the General Assembly.
It also recommends that these Area Associations appoint their representatives at World Athletics Commissions and Working Groups. The Council approves the principle of term limits at the head of the CAA.
At the end of the Council meeting, the 2024-2025 activity and financial reports presented by Director General Lamine Faty and Chief Financial Officer Souleymane Fall, respectively, were unanimously approved.
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