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WOA Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes, WOA President Dick Fosbury, IOC Liason Peter Tallberg, WOA Executive Committee Member Daichi Suzuki, WOA Vice President Charmaine Crooks and WOA Executive Committee Member and WOA African Director Amadou DiaBa at the WOA African Regional Offices in Dakar, Senegal for the Historic WOA Executive Committee Meeting

Tracy traveled to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa for the World Olympians Association (WOA) Executive Committee Meeting.. This was first time in WOA's history, since its formation in 1995, that the annual meeting was held on the Continent of Africa.

"We are very proud to host our WOA President and Executive Committee here in Senegal" says WOA African Regional Director and Executive Committee member Amadou Dia Ba. "We look forward to many more meetings in Africa and furthur expanding our membership and programs throughout the continent." Dia Ba competed on the Senegalese Olympic Team, winning an Olympic silver medal in the 400 meter hurdles.

WOA President Dick Fosbury said, "I was very pleased that the WOA Executive Committee and staff held an officer's meeting for the very first time on the continent of Africa, hosted by committee member Amadou Dia Ba and his fine staff in the Dakar Development Office. We had a constructive and informative meeting with the Senegalese Olympic Family, including many Olympians."

The Senegalese Olympic Family hosted a lunch at the National Stadium in Dakar. They shared stories about the activities of the Senegal Olympians Association and the Olympic Committee, during a wonderful lunch. This social time offered a chance for the Olympians to mingle and share stories amongst each other. Tracy said, "we all loved Senegal. It's a beautiful country and the people are so warm and caring. The entire WOA Executive Board, as well as our IOC Liason was extremely impressed with the work of Amadou Dia Ba and the WOA Development office in Dakar. He is doing a great job and we are very proud of him."

IOC Liason Peter Tallberg, WOA Executive Committee Member Daichi Suzuki, WOA President Dick Fosbury, WOA African Regional Office Director Amadou DiaBa, WOA Vice President Charmaine Crooks and WOA Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes with members of the Senegalese Olympic Family at the National Stadium in Dakar

The Senegalese Olympians Association Hosted lunch at the Stadium

IOC Liason Peter Talberg and Executive Committee Members Dick Fosbury, Charmaine Crooks and Daichi Suzuki listen to fellow ExCo Member and host Amadou DiaBa

IOC Liason Peter Talberg speaks to the Senegalese Olympic Family


Tracy Mattes with some of the young Track Athletes at the Stadium in Dakar, Senegal	Daichi Susuki has some fun with kids at the stadium in Dakar, Senegal	Charmaine Crooks lines up with a young track athlete at the stadium in Dakar, Senegal

In between the meetings and events, Dick Fosbury, Tracy Mattes and Daichi Suzuki took time out to go to a local book store in Dakar to buy some books for the openings of the Thank You Small Library on the OlympAfrica Sport Centers in Somone and Gandiaye Senegal. One of the libraries is scheduled to open in the coming weeks. The books were delivered by WOA African Regional Director Amadou DiaBa.

The next step for the WOA partnership will be to hire an Olympian to work in the libraries which will give Olympians a chance to mentor the children as they play sports at the OlympAfrica center and visit the new library. The WOA would like to have Olympians as ambassadors to the youth guiding them about the importance of literacy and education as well as the value of sport. Tracy said "We are very proud of what began in Mozambique and it's so great to see these actions now continuing across the continent. We are working to produce actions that have a real impact on the children in these communities."

WOA President Dick Fosbury picks out books for the opening of the Thank You Small Library on the OlympAfrica Center in Senegal

WOA Director of Global Programs Tracy Mattes picks out books for the opening of the Thank You Small Library on the OlympAfrica Center in Senegal

WOA Executive Committee Member Daichi Suzuki, picks out books for the opening of the Thank You Small Library on the OlympAfrica Center in Senegal