50th Anniversary of the Algerian Olympic Committee
The COA has set itself several objectives including the development of the sports sector, the construction of infrastructure, then the worthy representation of the national colors.
From the late Mohand Amokrane Maouche, the first president of the COA of independent Algeria (1963-1965) and also of the Algerian Football Federation (1962-1967), delighted with the affection of his family in a plane accident on January 2, 1971 in Tripoli, to Mustapha Berraf inducted on March 16 for the 2013-2016 Olympic mandate - his 4th after those of 1996-1998, 2001-2004 and 2004-2009 - the Algerian Olympic body has seen the passage of ten (10) presidents who have all left their mark on their presence within the Olympic sports movement. Since its official recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on January 27, 1964, on the occasion of the 62nd session held on the sidelines of the 9th Winter Olympic Games organized in Innsbruck (Austria), the COA has set itself several objectives including the development of the sports sector, the construction of infrastructure, then the worthy representation of the national colors in major world events and particularly the traditional Olympic Games. Emerging from a war of national liberation, Algerian sport worked for five decades to carve out a place in the international fold, as evidenced by its ten participations in the universal meeting of Olympism.
Well before independence, Algeria produced great champions including the child of Ouled Djellal, El-Ouafi Bouguerra Olympic champion in 1928 in Rotterdam, under the colors of the French colonizer, just like Alain Mimoun Akacha, native of Telagh, crowned gold at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. There was also the legend of Algerian cycling Abdelkader Zaaf, nicknamed the "breaker des baraques" who distinguished himself at the Tour de France, and especially at the Tour du Maroc in 1950 by winning five consecutive stages, without forgetting the charming boxer, Chérif Hamia born in Guergour (Sétif) who dazzled the purists with his great talent, winning the titles of European champion and vice-world champion in the "feather" category. Other illustrious sportsmen shone during the pre-independence period, notably the footballers of the glorious FLN team, including the emblematic Mekhloufi, Bentifour, Zitouni and others who sacrificed a promising professional career out of patriotism.
From the late Mohand Amokrane Maouche, the first president of the COA of independent Algeria (1963-1965) and also of the Algerian Football Federation (1962-1967), delighted with the affection of his family in a plane accident on January 2, 1971 in Tripoli, to Mustapha Berraf inducted on March 16 for the 2013-2016 Olympic mandate - his 4th after those of 1996-1998, 2001-2004 and 2004-2009 - the Algerian Olympic body has seen the passage of ten (10) presidents who have all left their mark on their presence within the Olympic sports movement. Since its official recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on January 27, 1964, on the occasion of the 62nd session held on the sidelines of the 9th Winter Olympic Games organized in Innsbruck (Austria), the COA has set itself several objectives including the development of the sports sector, the construction of infrastructure, then the worthy representation of the national colors in major world events and particularly the traditional Olympic Games. Emerging from a war of national liberation, Algerian sport worked for five decades to carve out a place in the international fold, as evidenced by its ten participations in the universal meeting of Olympism.
Well before independence, Algeria produced great champions including the child of Ouled Djellal, El-Ouafi Bouguerra Olympic champion in 1928 in Rotterdam, under the colors of the French colonizer, just like Alain Mimoun Akacha, native of Telagh, crowned gold at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956. There was also the legend of Algerian cycling Abdelkader Zaaf, nicknamed the "breaker des baraques" who distinguished himself at the Tour de France, and especially at the Tour du Maroc in 1950 by winning five consecutive stages, without forgetting the charming boxer, Chérif Hamia born in Guergour (Sétif) who dazzled the purists with his great talent, winning the titles of European champion and vice-world champion in the "feather" category. Other illustrious sportsmen shone during the pre-independence period, notably the footballers of the glorious FLN team, including the emblematic Mekhloufi, Bentifour, Zitouni and others who sacrificed a promising professional career out of patriotism.