Sensational news: Africa is playing billiards

GHENT - The world federation of billiards, the UMB, is well advanced with its negotiations to welcome the African confederation. The new continent would be the sixth in the world of carom after Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Australia.

Jean Claude Dupont, president of the World federation, confirms the plans. ,,Next Saturday I travel from the Agipi Masters in Schiltigheim immediately to Cairo to visit the founding meeting of the African confederation and to give them advise if necessary.''

The foundation of the African confederation includes that Egypt will disappear from the CEB (European federation) and will play for Africa in the future.
The other federations who want to join the African confederation are Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, Cameroon and South Africa.

Not yet known is how many carom players are active in these countries.

Jean Claude Dupont: ,,It is indeed intended that all these countries will be present to sign the foundation charter next Sunday and Monday. They are invited and are asked to prove with necessary official documents that they are the only represented carom billiards organization in their country. And they must be supported by their NOC or the Ministry of Sport. If some countries are not present, it is not a big problem. We can add them later to the organization.’’

Mr. Dupont says that that formal accession will be done in steps. ,,For various reasons, including the legislation in Egypt, it will probably be necessary to make two steps. The Egyptian federation will certainly be part of the European federation until the end of this sport year. But in relatively short term, it is intended that the Egyptian league will indeed move to the African confederation (probably within a year).''

The UMB will take care, after the accession of African confederation, that certain regulations have to be complied in an acceptable way in the upcoming championships.

The UMB-chairman wants to emphasize that the accession is particularly good news for the billiard sport.''

,,I am convinced that this step is extremely important for our Olympic recognition (also for all European national associations), but also for the globalization of our sport. Along with the strengthening of the Asian confederation in the coming months (probably with the accession of China and some other Asian countries), the foundation of the African confederation certainly will contribute to a revival of our sport.''