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Angola Chosen to Host 2025 African Youth Games

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 9th 2025 at 22:57 GMT by olympics.com

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African Youth Games 2025 – Angola’s Bid to Ignite Continental Sports

The Olympic Council of Africa (OCA) has announced that Angola will host the African Youth Games (AYG) in 2025, a milestone event that promises to showcase the country’s commitment to youth development, sports excellence and regional unity. The decision was made at the OCA General Assembly in Nairobi in October 2023, where the Angolan bid was judged to be the strongest among the seven candidates that had presented proposals.

1. Why Angola?

Angola’s selection is rooted in a series of deliberate investments in sporting infrastructure and urban regeneration that have taken place since the 2015 African Games in Luanda. The capital has built a state‑of‑the‑art sports complex, upgraded its road network, and opened a new multi‑purpose arena that will serve as the Games’ main venue. Moreover, the Angolan government pledged a €120 million investment for the event, a commitment that underscores its confidence in delivering a high‑profile, well‑organized Games.

The decision also reflects a broader African strategy to decentralise the continent’s sporting calendar. By hosting the AYG in Luanda, the OCA hopes to balance the hosting rotation with more developed countries in North Africa and the Middle East, and emerging ones in West and Central Africa.

2. The Games – Format and Scope

The 2025 African Youth Games will be a multi‑sport event for athletes aged 14 to 18, bringing together more than 2,200 participants from 53 National Olympic Committees (NOCs). The Games will feature 32 sports, including:

• Athletics, Swimming, and Gymnastics – the core of the Olympic program
• E‑sports – a new addition reflecting the digital shift in youth culture
• Traditional African sports – such as Korfball and Traditional Wrestling
• Emerging disciplines – like Beach Handball and Surfing (which will be held in the Atlantic coasts)

Each sport will have a unique schedule, with the entire event stretching from 20 to 31 October 2025. The opening ceremony will take place in the newly refurbished Estádio 11 de Novembro, while the closing ceremony will return to the city’s main square, Praça 25 de Setembro.

3. Venues – A City‑Wide Showcase

The Games will utilise 15 venues across Luanda, ranging from the newly built Luanda Sports Arena to the historic Estádio da Cidadela. Key highlights include:

• Luanda Aquatics Centre – a 50‑meter Olympic‑standard pool, with a seating capacity of 4,000. This is the first time a world‑class aquatic facility has been built in Angola.
• Luanda Indoor Hall – a versatile arena that will host basketball, handball, and indoor volleyball, featuring a 3,500‑seat capacity.
• Caxito Beach – a natural sand court for beach volleyball and surfing, with a backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean that provides a world‑class venue for both athletes and spectators.
• Universidade de Luanda Sports Complex – the hub for athletics, gymnastics, and weight‑lifting.

All venues are designed to meet the latest International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards for accessibility and sustainability, incorporating solar panels, rainwater harvesting, and waste‑reduction protocols.

4. Infrastructure – Beyond the Sports

The 2025 AYG are a catalyst for wider urban renewal. The Angolan Ministry of Infrastructure is investing in:

• Road upgrades – 25 kilometers of new asphalt, particularly on the routes leading to the sports venues.
• Public transport – a dedicated shuttle system that will ferry athletes, officials and spectators between key sites.
• Hospitality – expansion of 150 hotel rooms in Luanda’s waterfront hotels, with a partnership between the OCA and local tourism boards to offer discounted rates.

The Games will also introduce a “Green Games” initiative that includes a temporary mobile waste‑collection station in every venue, encouraging athletes to adopt sustainable habits throughout the Games.

5. Youth Development – The Heart of the Games

Central to the Games’ mission is fostering the next generation of athletes. The OCA, in partnership with the African Union’s Sports and Cultural Development Office, will provide:

• Pre‑Games training camps – 10 intensive camps across Africa, targeting 1,500 athletes and coaches, to level the playing field.
• Coaching workshops – 20 courses on advanced training techniques and sports science, delivered by leading coaches from the IOC’s Coaching Education Programme.
• Cultural exchange – a mandatory “Youth Exchange Programme” where participants attend local schools, community projects, and cultural festivals.

Athletes will be matched with mentors from the 2024 Summer Olympics, providing a unique opportunity for guidance and inspiration.

6. Economic and Social Impact

The 2025 AYG are expected to generate an estimated €55 million in direct and indirect economic activity for Angola. The impact study, commissioned by the Angolan Ministry of Finance, outlines the following:

• Employment – 2,000 temporary jobs created across sectors such as construction, hospitality, and event management.
• Tourism – A projected 100,000 visitors, including athletes, officials, media, and fans, with a 15% boost in international tourist bookings for the following two months.
• Media exposure – 12 live broadcast rights across Africa, with a social media reach of over 50 million across the continent.

Additionally, the Games aim to leave a lasting legacy in education. The Angolan government plans to allocate a portion of the event budget to build two new sports schools in the Luanda metropolitan area, providing youth with long‑term access to training facilities.

7. Challenges and Risks

While the Games hold immense promise, they are not without challenges. Analysts highlight the following risks:

• Climate – October in Luanda is prone to heatwaves, which could affect athlete performance. To mitigate this, venues are being equipped with cooling systems and hydration stations.
• Political stability – Angola’s political climate remains stable, but the OCA is monitoring potential unrest that could affect security arrangements.
• Budget overruns – Past large-scale sporting events in Africa have experienced cost overruns. The Angolan government has therefore established a dedicated oversight committee, with representation from the IOC, OCA, and the OCA’s Audit Bureau.

8. What’s Next?

The AYG 2025 preview by Olympics.com is an invitation to the global community to witness a transformative event that will redefine youth sport in Africa. As Luanda prepares to welcome athletes from all corners of the continent, the Games symbolize a new era of collaboration, innovation, and empowerment. The next few months will be critical for finalizing venue preparations, finalizing athlete quotas, and ensuring that the Games deliver on its promise: an unforgettable, inspiring platform where young athletes can compete, learn, and forge lifelong bonds.