The FC Barcelona Foundation (FFCB) and the IOC will contribute to the development of the Olympafrica project, which was founded by the IOC to promote social development through sport and to aid young people develop their skills with local coaching programmes.

Most of the funding for the project will come from the IOC, but the FFCB's existing FutbolNet programme will be incorporated to improve the range of activities available.

"We thank the International Olympic Committee and its President, Jacques Rogge, for the confidence they have shown in the FC Barcelona Foundation to carry out this project." said FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell.

"It is a great source of pride for our club to contribute to the promotion of the values of sport amongst youth in Africa, as we have been doing in many regions in our own country."

Barcelona's Futbolnet project will be incorporated following the agreement with the IOC

Rogge said: "Sport is a powerful tool for reaching out to today's youth on all continents,"

"We aim to bring sport and its inherent values to all fields of society.

"Through this partnership with the FFCB, we will provide young people and communities in a multitude of African countries with the opportunity to practise sport, to be empowered and to further their human development."

The 2013 programme will see 26 local football tournaments organised for 12-to-15-year-olds, which are to be held at Olympafrica centres in 23 African countries, with a regional tournament set to be held in Burundi this May, with teams from four neighbouring centres scheduled to compete.

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