The Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) held a strategic session in Luanda, Angola, reviewing progress in sport development, governance, and infrastructure. Key highlights include exceeding objectives by over 100%, partnerships with FIFA, World Aquatics, FIBA, and the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to expand access to sports, and the success of continental events like the African Beach Games and African School Games. The African Athlete Support Programme has also contributed to significant athlete achievements, including Botswana's first Olympic gold medal and Algeria's first gold in artistic gymnastics. ANOCA emphasized the importance of Olympafrica centres and the modernization of national Olympic committee headquarters.

Kiana Smith's special naturalization for the Korean national basketball team failed due to not passing the Ministry of Justice's evaluation, leading to her retirement from the WKBL. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and the basketball community express disappointment, emphasizing the need for naturalized players to enhance international competitiveness. The Korean Basketball Association is considering Jarin Stevenson for naturalization to strengthen the team for the 2026 Asian Games, but he may not meet the strict requirements, including performance in major international tournaments. This issue has sparked debate about the broader need for naturalization in Korean sports to improve competitiveness.