The absence of application modalities makes it difficult for the law to be completely implemented.
Ten years have gone by since the Head of State, Paul Biya, signed the law fixing the charter of sports and physical activities in Cameroon. The Sports Charter, as the document is called, is supposed to be the « Bible » of those in the world of sports. The 11-page document regulates the practice of sports and physical education in the county. It defines who does what, states the role of sports associations and federations, the input of government and how sports and physical activities should be organised.
But like many other laws in Cameroon, the text of application of some of the articles is still awaited. Confusion is therefore bound to exist with regards to the interpretation of certain articles. It is for this reason that last Tuesday, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Ephraim Inoni, instructed the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Philippe Mbarga Mboa, to promptly submit to him the implementing instruments of the already adopted Sports Charter.
The text of application of the law which came into force in August 1996 will permit those in the sports world to know, for example, the type of control which the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education has over sports federations. Such application modalities are also needed to know who is expected to coordinate which activity. As stated in article 20 of the law: « Besides the National Olympic Committee which exercises its functions with regards to missions granted it by the International Olympic Committee, the coordination of olympic and sports activities in the country are a prerogative of the state which has to work in conformity with modalities fixed by a text of application ».
The financing of sports and physical activities, the status of elite athletes and that of the coaches of national teams of the different sports disciplines, as well as issues related to sports licence and insurance also need to be regulated by special texts.
TCHE Irene MORIKANG, CT
