Year of Africa has been nominated for a 2017 Peace and Sport Award ©AIBA

The International Boxing Association's (AIBA) Year of Africa legacy project has been nominated for a prestigious award to recognise its "ground-breaking" influence throughout the continent.

It has been nominated for a 2017 Peace and Sport Award. 

Created in 2008, the annual Peace and Sport Awards reward organisations and individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace, dialogue and social stability in the world through sport.

As well as introducing more people of all ages to boxing for the first time, education is central to the Year of Africa.

This is to ensure that coaches and boxers are aware of opportunities open to them, while explaining boxing’s positive values and encouraging more young people to embrace the sport.

With education at its heart, the year-long Year of Africa initiative has offered 4,835 course places and has brought about a 250 per cent increase in Africa’s pool of officials. 

An estimated 750,000 young people have been given an up-close introduction to boxing due to the Year of Africa Truck’s mobile ring which is touring the continent, brimming with expensive Taishan boxing equipment donations to local schools and gyms.

As well as uncovering a new wave of potential champions, educating officials and training coaches, the legacy is already being felt with four National Federations implementing long-term development projects. 

The year-long Year of Africa initiative has offered 4,835 course places and changed the lives of so many children in Africa ©Getty Images
The year-long Year of Africa initiative has offered 4,835 course places and changed the lives of so many children in Africa ©Getty Images

Now, AIBA is in the process of adapting the Year of Africa blueprint for the second edition, having announced 2018 to be the Year of the Caribbean.

The Year of Africa is one of three nominations in the Event of the Year category which highlights a sports event that successfully promotes a message of peace and illustrates its ability to bring communities together. 

Boxing will also be showcased at the gala event held in Monaco on December 7, with an exhibition bout being held between India and Pakistan as well as a boxing masterclass for kids from a local gym.

AIBA launched the Year of Africa 2017 - a continent-wide programme that aims to bring education, empowerment and a lasting legacy for boxing in the region - at the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic cycle.

Conceived in collaboration with the African Boxing Confederation and being implemented by the continent’s 54 National Federations, it has a direct reach of more than 750,000 people.