The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) has announced the permanent closure of the `Africa Village’, over reason it said was beyond its control.
“In keeping with its enduring concern to keep the London public and the international community as a whole informed, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa hereby announces that Africa Village is closed,’’ a statement by ANOCA Communications department said.
It said that it was using the opportunity to thank the many visitors who came to have a feel of Africa as well as the English authorities that allowed the prestigious event to hold.
“The closure, which is consequent on a dispute between a French enterprise and some English companies, has impacted our continent most adversely, especially as our only desire, when we initiated this project was to exhibit Africa’s rich cultural diversity to the English public and visitors from other countries.’’
It explained that the closure was an arbitrary action, taken without even notifying ANOCA and those that set up stands, without producing any official document issued by English Court or administrative authorities.
“It goes without saying that ANOCA has demonstrated all necessary goodwill by making payments for transactions in which we were not at all involved and in doing our possible best to assist the English companies.’’
ANOCA notedthat it reserved the right to seek redress for damages caused to its public image and to the exhibitors, who were even denied access to the exhibition ground for since Aug. 8.
The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent covering the Games reports that exhibitors and those who patronise the place, kept away from the arena on Wednesday following wrangling over unpaid bills as well as unexplained “security concerns’’.
The Village’s lead agency, the France-based Pixcom, claimed that it was closed “for technical reasons’’.
The security firm that provided round-the-clock backing had pulled out their staff over mounting bills, thereby, triggering the closure.
Morocco was due to host an event there on Wednesday, when the place was condoned off by a detachment of the London Metropolitan Police until the matter was resolved.
The Moroccans were turned away when they arrived to begin preparing for their event.
The countries there include Gabon, Egypt, Morocco, Cameroon and Nigeria.
The Village, located at the Kensington Gardens, is managed by Pixcom, a French Events Management Company with suppliers who claimed they were owed 395,000 pounds (about 620, 000 dollars or N99.2 million).
The Village, worth 2.4 million pounds or 3.7 million dollars, is owned by the 52-member ANOCA and was designed to showcase each African country’s unique culture.