Assembly/AU/Decl.1 (VIII) Page 1 DECLARATION OF THE 8TH ASSEMBLY OF THE AU HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL, 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONFEDERATION OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL AND USHERING IN THE 2010 WORLD CUP AS AN AFRICAN EVENT (Doc. Assembly/AU/2 (VIII) We, the AU Heads of State and Government, meeting in our 8th Ordinary Session Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 29-30 January 2007, Re-calling the Decision we made during our January 2006 Summit in Khartoum, the Sudan, to declare the 2007 as the International Year of African Football as proposed by the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; Recognizing the role of sport in the promotion of peace, solidarity, social cohesion and sustainable socio-economic development; Aware of the need for reflecting on the collective history of football in Africa and also the need for commemorating the 50th anniversary of Confederation of African Football (CAF’s) as part of our appreciation of its outstanding contribution to the development of soccer in Africa; Appreciating the briefing by South Africa on the preparations to host the 2010 World Cup, for the first time in the history of the Continent, which is a legitimate recognition of Africa’s contribution to the advancement of world sports; Pursuant to our commitment to ensuring the success of the 2010 World Cup tournaments on our Continent; Recognizing the supportive role of sports in Africa’s effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; We therefore: 1. HEREBY LAUNCH 2007 as the International Year of African Football; 2. MANDATE the Commission, in collaboration with Member States, to develop a Programme of Activities to mark the International Year of African Football; 3. FURTHER MANDATE the Commission to organise the relevant Conference of Ministers of Sports to provide leadership to the organisation of activities marking the International Year of African Football, as well as to elaborate concrete activities in connection with the 2010 World Cup; 4. CONGRATULATE the Confederation of African Football on its 50th Anniversary;