Angola Olympians Association Marks 8 Year Anniversary

23 | 2 | 2016

The Olympic Athletes Association of Angola (AAOA) has celebrated its anniversary with an event aimed at bringing sport into the community. It is eight years since the AAOA was inaugurated in 2007 and to mark the occasion a team of Angolan athletes, representing a number of Olympic sports, has visited the Kuzola Children’s Home in Luanda to engage with the kids and spread the spirit of Olympism.   

During the visit Olympians, including Nadia Cruz (Swimming), Carlos Almeida (Basketball), Edmar Victoriano “Baduna” (Basketball), Anica Neto (Handball), Justino Victoriano (Basketball), Gerson Monteiro (Basketball), Nelson Sardinha (Basketball), Elsa Freire (Swimming), Natália Bernardo (Handball), Honorato Troso (Basketball), Apolinário Silveira (Box), Domingos Antonio (Paraoliympic), Emanuel Fernandes (Beach Volleyball), Carolina Morais (Handball), Elisabeth Cailo (Handball), Inácio Olím (Hockey) and Morais Abreu (Beach Volleyball), along with football star Carlos Alonso “Kali”, took part in activities promoting fair play, inclusion, equality, ethics, respect and the Olympic values.

As well as group training sessions covering a range of different skills and disciplines to encourage participation and a love of sport, the AAOA also facilitated the donation of sports equipment, toys and other goods to the orphanage as part of its strategy on social action.

Nadia Cruz, President of the AAOA and four-time Olympic swimmer (1988-2000), said:

“We are delighted to be celebrating the eight year anniversary of the Olympic Athletes Association of Angola. It has been rewarding to be part of the organisation for so long and to watch it grow and develop over the years as an integral member of the Angolan sports community. It was also heartening to see so many of our Olympians and partners willing to help out at Kuzola Children’s Home and use their status as sports stars to inspire and motivate the children.

“Our anniversary, in an Olympic year, is made even more special through the common history, culture and language we in Angola share with the next host city, Rio de Janeiro. We are thrilled that 17 new and returning Olympians have already qualified in handball, swimming and rowing and we hope to have many more by the time the Olympic Games get underway in Brazil later this year.”