Central African Games Explained

The Central African Games was an international multi-sport event for countries within Central Africa. It was held on three occasions: in 1976 in Libreville, Gabon, in 1981 in Luanda, Angola, and finally in 1987 in Brazzaville, People's Republic of the Congo.^[1] ^[2]

History

Between 1962 and 1964, was helds the Jeux de la Coupe des Tropiques. In 1972, a Central African Cup competition had been organised in Brazzaville, featuring a number of sporting events, and this proved to be a precursor to the Central African Games, which was first held four years later.

The first Games were designed as a buildup to the 1976 Summer Olympics,^[3] but this proved to be the year's highlight for many of the athletes as many African countries boycotted the Olympics in protest of New Zealand's sporting links with Apartheid-era South Africa.^[4]

Events at the final edition of the Games in 1987 acted as qualifiers for the 1987 All-Africa Games in some cases.^[3]

Editions

Precedent games

Jeux de la Coupe des Tropiques

Edition	Year	Host City	Host Nation	Start Date	End Date	Nations	Competitors	Sports	Events	Top Placed Team
	1962		Central African Rep.	24 December	31 December	?	?	?	?
	1964		Cameroon	11 July	19 July	?	?	?	?

Coupe d'Afrique Centrale

Edition	Year	Host City	Host Nation	Start Date	End Date	Nations	Competitors	Sports	Events	Top Placed Team
	1972		Congo	13 July	23 July	?	?	?	?
II	1974	N'Djamena	Chad	Cancelled