The Central African Games was an international multi-sport event for countries within Central Africa. It was held on three occasions: in 1976 in Libreville, Gabon, in 1981 in Luanda, Angola, and finally in 1987 in Brazzaville, in the People’s Republic of the Congo.
Precursor events were the Tropics Games (Jeux de la Coupe des Tropiques), held in 1962 and 1964, and the Central African Cup (Coupe d’Afrique Centrale) held in Brazzaville in 1972.
The 1st Central African Games were held from 30 June to 10 July 1976 in Libreville, Gabon. Eleven nations competed in eight sports over the eleven-day competition, with 1,312 athletes in attendance. These games were designed as a buildup to the 1976 Summer Olympics, but this proved to be the year’s highlight for many of the athletes as many African countries boycotted the Olympics in protest of New Zealand’s sporting links with Apartheid-era South Africa.
The 2nd Central African Games were held from 20 August to 2 September 1981 in Luanda, Angola. Ten nations competed in eight sports over the fourteen-day competition, with 1,200 athletes in attendance.
