COA President Mustapha Berraf gave a speech to attendees of a ceremony celebrating 55 years of the COA ©COA

The Algerian Olympic and Sport Committee (COA) held a ceremony at the Algerian Olympic and Sports Museum to celebrate 55 years of its existence.

The ceremony was attended by guests such as the former President of the COA, Baghdadi Si Mohamed, and Soraya Haddad, winner of a bronze medal in judo at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The ceremony featured a presentation on the history of the COA and the viewing of a film looking at Algerian participation in Olympic Games throughout the years.

COA President Mustapha Berraf, a candidate for the Presidency of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, also gave a speech to the attendees.

Algerian Soraya Haddad, who won Olympic gold in judo at the 2008 Beijing Games, was in attendance at a ceremony which celebrated 55 years of the Algerian Olympic Committee ©Getty Images
Algerian Soraya Haddad, who won Olympic gold in judo at the 2008 Beijing Games, was in attendance at a ceremony which celebrated 55 years of the Algerian Olympic Committee ©Getty Images

"This 55th anniversary marks a whole epic of the COA since the beginning of its constitution, it is a duty of memory," said Berraf.

"The COA has always been the moral authority for sport in Algeria.

"As noted today, many sports figures were well represented and I think there is a great deal of harmony between the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the COA and the National Federations, which will certainly deliver results in the future."