AUC CELEBRATES TORCH RELAY ARRIVAL FOR 12TH ALL-AFRICA UNIVERSITY GAMES
– The American University in Cairo (AUC) — the two-time defending champion of the All-Africa University Games — proudly hosted the arrival of the torch relay on Monday on its New Cairo campus, kicking off the continent’s largest university sports competition. Hosted by AUC President Ahmad Dallal, the event included Ashraf Sobhy, president of the African University Sports Federation and former minister of youth and sports, and Ahmed Kamel, vice president of the Egyptian University Sports Federation, marking the official completion of the flame’s nationwide tour across Egyptian higher education institutions.
AUC is hosting about half of all of the competitions in its state-of-the-art AUC Sports Complex with world-class courts and facilities for 10 games, including basketball, track and field, tennis, padel, squash, modern pentathlon, fencing, futsal, volleyball, and swimming.
As the two-time defending continental champion, following overall titles at the 2022 Games in Kenya and the 2024 Games in Nigeria, AUC will field about 150 student-athletes in pursuit of a third consecutive overall championship. The competition, which will bring more than 2,000 athletes from 59 universities and 17 nations, takes place from September 8 to 16, 2026.
“We are proud to participate in co-hosting the Games, which bring together young athletes from across
Africa in Cairo,” said AUC President Ahmad Dallal. “Sports create opportunities for students from different universities to come together through competition, teamwork and camaraderie. These experiences are an important part of university life.” He added that “universities have a responsibility that extends beyond the classroom to create opportunities for students to develop their talents, pursue their interests and ambitions, and learn from one another.”
Dallal expressed pride that this year’s tournament will mark an inclusive milestone. “It is especially meaningful that, for the first time, para-athletes will take part in the Games,” he added.
The campus celebration commenced with an honor passage as the torch entered at ARTOC Sports Court, escorted by a live drumline and the AUC cheerleading team. A team of 40 AUC student-athletes, comprising 20 male and 20 female runners, carried the flame in alternating 10-meter exchanges around the 400-meter at the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Football and Track Stadium before lighting a ceremonial cauldron. Hundreds of incoming freshman students gathered around the track waving custom AUC flags, while an exhibition displayed 10 historic Olympic torches from the Egyptian Olympic Museum.
AUC’s Sports Complex is home to 38 athletic programs, offering a diverse range of sports and activities that support training, competition and athletic development. The University’s programs span team and individual sports, including basketball, volleyball, handball, track and field, swimming, squash, tennis and table tennis. Over the years, the complex has hosted numerous local and international student competitions, including the UIPM Modern Pentathlon World Cup, Special Olympics qualifiers and Egyptian Universities Sports Federation (EUSF) fixtures
