Olympics bosses must back Africa Games, organiser says

ALGIERS, July 22 (Reuters) Olympic chiefs should give the All Africa Games the same priority as other continental competitions if the Games are to be taken seriously by the rest of the world, the event's director general said today.

On the penultimate day of the ninth All Africa Games, Yefsah Djaffer said he regretted that the host nation had to carry the burden of hosting an event which attracted 'negligible' sponsorship.

''The International Olympic Committee (IOC) supports Asian Games and Pan American Games heavily and gives almost nothing to the Africa Games. This attitude must change if we are to take the Games to the next level,'' Djaffer told a news conference.

''The IOC must put everything into force to make them a real African Olympics.'' Djaffer said he recalled that the IOC gave 250,000 dollars for the hosting of the games four years ago in Nigeria but had given nothing to Algeria.

Yet Algeria had still sponsored up to 19 countries who could not bring their teams to the north African nation for the games.

Djaffer, who said security at the July 11-23 games in Algeria was better than at the Olympics, said the African Games should be used to select athletes for top competitions.

''ANOCA (Association of African National Olympic Committees) should address this matter seriously and give the Games an impetus that will make them self-sustaining like other continental games,'' he said.

''As they are held now, the Games don't interest top athletes or sponsors. We must reverse this trend...,'' he said.

The officials said African nations had to change their ''attitude'' and respect deadlines set by organising committees for the submission of required details.

''With one month to the start of the games, only 26 nations had sent to us details required for the accreditation of athletes and officials,'' he said.

REUTERS BJR KP1925