 | |
| Host city | Lagos, Nigeria |
|---|---|
| Nations | 36 |
| Opening | 7 January 1973 |
| Closing | 18 January 1973 |
| Opened by | Yakubu Gowon |
| Main venue | National Stadium |
The 2nd All-Africa Games, also known as Lagos 1973, were played from 7 to 18 January 1973, in Lagos, Nigeria.
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After the success of the first African Games, the organizing bodies awarded the second games to Bamako, Mali to be held in 1969. A military coup disrupted the plans and the organizers moved the Games to Lagos, Nigeria to be held in 1971. The Games were postponed once again and finally opened in January 1973. A torch was lit in Brazzaville a week before the Games and transported to Lagos as a symbol of the continuity of the Games.
Security again was very tight at the Games. This time in response to the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games just four months earlier.
Sports heroes from around the world including Abebe Bikila, Pelé, Muhammad Ali, and Jesse Owens were invited to attend the opening ceremonies.
Ben Jipcho, Kenya's 3000 meter silver medalist at the Munich Olympics, tied the world record in the steeplechase with a run of 8:20.8. Tanzania's newcomer Filbert Bayi stunned the veteran favorite Kip Keino in the 1500 meters in 3:37.18.
African nations continued to put pressure on South Africa which was not invited to participate due to their apartheid policies. Rhodesia was also not invited.
At the closing ceremonies the torch was passed to Algiers, Algeria to begin preparations for the IIIrd All-Africa Games in 1978.
