The 12th All Africa University Games were officially opened on Wednesday at the Velodrome of the Cairo International Stadium, with student-athletes, officials and delegation members from 18 African countries taking part in the first edition of the Games to be hosted by Egypt. The opening ceremony featured a parade of participating delegations, an artistic presentation celebrating Egyptian heritage and the lighting of the Games flame before Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly formally declared the competition open.
Hosted by Egypt for the first time, the games are set to take place from 8 to 16 September under the theme “One Flame, One Continent”. The biennial continental event brings together universities from across Africa.
The opening ceremony began with the Egyptian national anthem, followed by an artistic presentation titled “Egypt: Land of Civilisation”, which showcased elements of ancient Egyptian heritage through costumes, choreography and visual performances.
Following the performances, the official parade of participating countries and delegations began.
Delegations from across the continent, including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Somalia, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Mauritius, Gabon and hosts Egypt, took part in the parade at the Velodrome.
The ceremony also featured addresses from senior figures in African, international and Egyptian university sport such as FASU President Prof Ashraf Sobhy, FISU President Leonz Eder, Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports Gohar Nabil, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Abdelaziz Konsowa and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
For Egypt, the Games represent a significant milestone as the country hosts the All Africa University Games for the first time since the Federation of Africa University Sports was established in 1971.
The 2026 edition also forms part of celebrations marking FASU’s 55th anniversary. Prof. Sobhy described the opening as a historic moment for Egyptian and African university sport, welcoming the participating delegations and noting that the Games coincide with African Sports Day, African Union Day and the 55th anniversary of FASU.
Minister Konsowa highlighted the wider educational and cultural significance of the event. He said Cairo 2026 was the first African University Games to be held in Egypt since FASU’s establishment and affirmed that the competition should serve as a platform for interaction among African students and universities.
He also stressed the connection between education, sport and culture in youth development, saying that “competition should be strong but ethics should be stronger” while also encouraging participants to take home friendships, experiences and memories alongside their sporting achievements.
Similarly, Ministry Nabil positioned the Games as more than a competition for medals. He said the theme, “One Flame, One Continent” reflected the unity of African youth despite differences in language and culture.
The Sports Minister also pointed to the inclusion of para-sport competitions as evidence that sport should remain accessible to everyone, encouraging the participating athletes to compete strongly while building friendships and memories during their time in Egypt.
Prime Minister Madbouly used his address to emphasize the broader relationship between Egypt and the rest of Africa. “Africa for Egypt is not merely a geographical affiliation but a shared history, deep human ties, a common destiny and a future that we believe we must build together,” the Prime Minister said.
He told the participating athletes that while the competition would centre on medals, records and sporting performance, their experience in Egypt should extend beyond the results. “We hope that your experience in Egypt will be greater than simply competition” Prime Minister Madbouly said while encouraging the participating athletes to make new friends, experience different cultures and exchange ideas, stories and experiences with students from other African countries.
Speaking further, he described university sport as an important extension of university life, saying the Games represented “much more than just a sporting event” because they brought together Africa’s young people, universities and shared values. “Sport teaches us respect, discipline, courage, teamwork and fair play”, the Prime Minister added, stressing that athletes could compete strongly and still leave the field with greater appreciation and respect for one another.
Also, the Prime Minister linked the Games to broader African cooperation, declaring that the continent’s future would be shaped not only through institutions and policies but also through relationships developed among its young people. “Africa is our common home. Its youth are our common hope and its future is a responsibility we all carry together” he said.
Concluding his speech, the Egyptian Prime Minister formally declared the Games open much to the excitement of the audience after which the ceremony proceeded to the lighting of the Games flame.
The Cairo 2026 flame had travelled through Egypt’s university system before arriving at the opening ceremony. The torch journey began on 11 August at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the New Administrative Capital and subsequently visited institutions including Cairo University, the British University in Egypt, Badr University, the American University in Cairo, Ain Shams University and Capital University.
The opening ceremony also included exhibitions celebrating Egyptian and African heritage. According to the Egyptian State Information Service, the Prime Minister visited the Art Street and African Heritage exhibitions before the ceremony, where the Ministry of Culture presented live demonstrations of traditional crafts.
With the 12th All Africa University Games officially declared open, thousands of student athletes from across the continent are now to spend the next couple of days competing for continental honours.
Written by: Victor Oluwaseun Olabisi