WADA's African office was officially inaugurated by Rev. Dr. M A Stofile, Minister of Sport and Recreation of South Africa, and Mr Whitey Jacobs, MEC of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. A number of political and sport personalities from the region, diplomats from the southern African region, as well as WADA's Director General David Howman, attended the ceremony.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in November 1999 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with the support of governments following an international conference on anti-doping in sport held in Lausanne, Switzerland, in February 1999. This conference, attended by representatives from both the international sports movement and governments, resolved to unite their efforts in ensuring that the fight against doping in sport is unified and harmonized. It was agreed that an independent agency should spearhead this initiative and, hence, the creation of WADA.
In 2001, at a meeting of the WADA Executive Committee in Cape Town, it was agreed that a regional office for Africa should be established. The ensuing bidding process for the hosting of the office saw RSA and Egypt submit admirable bids. The South African bid, (Cape Town) included support from both the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial Government, who, amongst others, offered to accommodate the office. After an intensive evaluation process, the Executive Board voted in favour of Cape Town to host the WADA Africa Regional Office.
In the official launch of the office on Tuesday, Rev Makhenkesi Stofile, Minster of Sport and Recreation stated that doping was not as rife in the African continent as compared to Europe and the United State, but that may change as the continent became more developed.
MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Whitey Jacobs in his speech said, "The launch of the Africa regional office and the role that it will play to discourage and prevent African athletes and coaches in particular, from using illegal and artificial performance enhancing drugs is an important tool to promoting a healthy life style amongst our athletes. It also instills in our youth the age-old African values of fairness and honesty."
This office opened in November 2003. Originally located within the South African Ministry of Sport and Recreation offices, it moved in May 2004 into a new space provided by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, headed by Mr Rodney Swiegelaar.
Read the opening address by MEC Jacobs.
