why africa is behind

After Tokyo 2020, Rio 2016, London 2012 and many other previous editions, the observation is the same for Paris 2024: at each Olympic Games, Africa lags behind in the medal rankings. While nations like China, the USA, France, Japan and Great Britain monopolize the top spots in the overall medal rankings, you have to look down the list to find traces of African nations.

A bad habit adopted by an entire continent, with rare exceptions such as South Africa (swimming, rugby, athletics) or Kenya (long-distance running) which can be explained by numerous structural factors which slow down the development of African athletes, whose careers resemble an obstacle course more than a marked path.

Sport in search of priority

First of all, the lack of funding is one of the main obstacles to sports development in Africa. According to the World Bank, 41% of the population in sub-Saharan Africa lives on less than $1.90 per day. In this context, financial resources are often allocated to sectors considered more of a priority, such as education, health and infrastructure. For example, in 2021, the budget of the Ministry of Sports in Kenya represented only 0.1% of the national budget. The observation is clear: sport is not a priority.

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By comparison, Western nations are spending large amounts of money on their sports programs. In the United States, the US Olympic Committee has invested nearly $800 million in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, a colossal sum compared to African budgets. For example, this is much more than the $527 million national GDP of a country like Sao Tome and Principe, or the equivalent of a quarter of Lesotho’s GDP in the same year ($2.5 billion).

Sponsorship opportunities, which are essential to support athletes, are also limited. In South Africa, the most advanced country in this field on the African continent, the sports sponsorship market generated around $120 million in 2020. A figure well below the billions invested by sponsors in Europe, North America and even in some Asian countries.

In addition, widespread poverty is an additional obstacle. Many African athletes have to juggle their passion with a job to meet their daily needs. According to a study by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), nearly 70% of African athletes participating in the Olympic Games do not have sufficient financial support to focus exclusively on their training.

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Sports infrastructure: fragile foundations

Another major obstacle is the lack of adequate sports infrastructure, which is another major challenge across the continent. In many African countries, facilities such as modern stadiums, swimming pools and athletics tracks are often non-existent or in poor condition. In 2020, a UNESCO report reported that only 10% of secondary schools in sub-Saharan Africa have sports facilities that meet international standards.

In contrast, Western nations benefit from state-of-the-art sports complexes that allow athletes to train in optimal conditions. In Australia, the government invests about $1 billion a year in sports infrastructure, while in Uganda, the budget for sports was only $5 million in 2022.

And even when they exist, sports infrastructure is often difficult to access due to high costs or equipment shortages. In addition, there is often a lack of structured sports development programmes to identify and train young talent. Unlike Western systems that offer scholarships and clear pathways from amateur to professional level, young African athletes often lack the support to reach the highest level.

The impact of political instability and social issues

Another factor with heavy repercussions is the chronic political instability of several African countries, which hinders sports development. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Africa has 15 of the 20 least stable countries in the world, directly affecting the ability of nations to invest in sports.

Cultural and social norms also influence sports participation. In some parts of Africa, sports are not always encouraged, especially for women. For example, a 2021 African Union survey found that only 24% of African Olympic athletes were women, compared to 49% globally. Gender inequality remains a major challenge, with fewer opportunities for female athletes due to social norms that often privilege domestic roles for women, while men are more likely to pursue a sporting goal.

The weight of the colonial heritage

All these factors are compounded by the weight of history. Because the colonial legacy continues to weigh on African sports development. The sports structures and systems introduced at the time by the colonizing countries were often designed for a certain elite and did not adapt well to local realities after the independence period. For example, in countries like Nigeria, only 20% of the sports infrastructure inherited from the colonial era is still operational today.

These infrastructures and programs reserved for a minority took time to democratize, and many African countries found themselves with underdeveloped sports systems after decolonization. For example, in 2024, half of the countries on the continent do not have a stadium approved to CAF and FIFA standards. While it took decades to reform these systems so that they meet the needs of the local population, it is clear that there is still a long way to go before we have a set of sports infrastructures, in different disciplines, capable of standing comparison with what is done elsewhere in the world.

Some glimmers of hope?

Despite these challenges, positive signs of progress are beginning to emerge. Sports development programs are emerging, supported by government initiatives and private partnerships. For example, Senegal recently launched a $50 million sports development program to build new infrastructure. South Sudan, through the personal investment of former NBA basketball player Luol Deng, now president of the national federation, has enabled the national team to compete in its first Olympic Games and establish itself as a future stronghold of African basketball.

The African diaspora also plays a crucial role in this process of supporting the continent’s sporting development. African athletes living abroad often contribute through mentoring and funding programs. For example, some athletes from the Nigerian diaspora have invested in sports schools in Nigeria, helping to train the next generation of champions who will take over.

Added to this are the recent successes of some African athletes on the world stage, which have raised the profile of African sport and inspired the next generation of athletes. In disciplines such as marathon, boxing, and football, new talents are emerging, showing that the potential is there. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Uganda won a record four medals for the country, illustrating the progress made.

A potential to be released… provided you invest and have a strategy

Proof that even if the Olympic performance gap between Africa and Western nations is the result of a tangle of many factors, increasing investments, private initiatives, and increased support for training can bear fruit in the long term. But for the continent to fully realize its athletic potential, it is essential that governments, private partners, and associations and academies work together to put in place the foundations of an environment conducive to the development and prosperity of sport and athletes.

All this while having a real long-term strategy and focusing part of the investments on clearly defined disciplines with the greatest potential, like Jamaica and its sprint school or Australia with swimming. Two countries that distinguish themselves in these respective disciplines at each Olympic Games.

African athletes have immense potential, and with the right support, Africa could position itself as a real contender on the global Olympic stage. This is a challenge, yes, but also a unique opportunity to make the continent shine on the international sporting stage, without which, African nations will continue to be spectators at major events, watching others receive the most prestigious distinctions.