(William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing China)
Beijing, China, May 23, GNA - Africa Sports Journalists Union (ASJU) has fashioned out short and long term strategies to rewrite the continent's sports history to reflect the true achievements of the continent.
The projects dubbed "Africa without Olympic Magazine" and "Africa Sports Encyclopedia" will seek to document the fragmented history of the continent in sports for posterity.
The two projects will also reconstitute and perpetrate the African Sports History, honour and promote the memory of best African athletes, facilitate research on the history of sports in Africa and to create a link between athletes and journalists.
Mr Tharcisse Harerima, General Secretary of ASJU said the "The Africa without Olympic Magazine" which is the short term strategy will commence in a few weeks before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
This, he said will chronicle the achievements of all African countries at the Olympics Games.
According to Mr Harerima, the project will then create the path for the introduction of the African Sports Encyclopedia. He explained that the Encyclopedia will also lay emphasis on recent exploits of sports men and women on the continent.
Mr Harerima regretted that the continent's exploits in sports are in fragmented documents, whilst some have not been well written, hence the need to adopt the right approach in correcting those shortfalls. "The history of Africa in sports can be well documented by Africans that is why ASJU has taken steps towards the realisation of these dream."
Mr Harerima said member countries will be called upon to contribute articles to the two documents, whilst renowned sports journalists on the continent will also be key members of the projects. The General Secretary said the Union will ensure the participation of all in the projects and to give it an African identity. Mr Harerima said the two projects will mark the beginning of renaissance in Africa Sports History.
He predicted that ASJU will once again become a powerful global force following the intensive re-organisation in the group. The General Secretary said ASJU has secured a permanent secretariat in Morocco with adequate backing from the Morocco Kingdom. He said this will strengthen the day-to-day administration of the Union that will see to the growth of sports journalism on the continent. 23 May 08
