Africa’s skating culture is experiencing an explosive rise, evolving from a niche subculture into a global force. With South Africa bidding to host the 2028 World Skate Games, the continent is proving that it’s no longer a passive participant but a key player in the sport. Opportunities abound.
South Africa (07 July 2025) – South Africa’s bid to host the 2028 World Skate Games, itself a testament to the growing popularity of skating both as sport and as culture, is finding support amongst a growing band of young Africans.
Half a continent away, George Kweyu, a skating coach at the Kakamega Young Skaters Club, which trains children to skate in western Kenya, said the bid announced the arrival of a movement on the continent.
“The bid signals a shift, proving that African nations are no longer just (passive) participants in global skating sports,” he explained.
“The sport has come a long way in Africa, and the mere fact that South Africa sees the potential to host the 2028 Games speaks volumes about its rapid growth. It means what was once a sport for a few is now a thriving movement,” the 32-year-old accountant said in an interview.
The bid is being submitted by Roller Sport South Africa with assistance from CN&CO, a South African marketing company.
If successful, South Africa will become the first African nation to host the games, bringing together elite competitors across 13 disciplines: skateboarding, speed, artistic, inline slalom, downhill, inline freestyle, inline hockey, rink hockey, roller derby, roller freestyle, scootering, skate cross, and esports.
According to Wendy Gila, president of Roller Sport South Africa, the country’s national federation of roller sports, which will spearhead the bid, “hosting the games in SA (at Sun City) would position South Africa as a global hub for international sporting events while delivering significant economic benefits.”
“This is a fantastic opportunity not only to showcase South Africa’s world-class facilities and warm hospitality but also to highlight our commitment to supporting global sports and encouraging the growth of skating disciplines in our country,” she said in a statement.
In South Africa, the sport’s rising status is evident in growing participation at grassroots levels, with competitive skaters emerging from Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban.
Related Story
The growing momentum of skating sports in Africa also aligns with global trends as what was once a subculture evolves into an Olympic sport, alongside culture-intensive Olympic sports such as snowboarding and surfing.
The International Olympic Committee recently confirmed skating will become a permanent Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, following its successful debuts in Tokyo and Paris.
Notably, infrastructure is keeping pace with this growth. Skate parks and roller sports venues are being developed across Africa by a blend of public and private sector efforts.
According to their websites, facilities such as The Shred in Cape Town and Thrashers Skatepark in Pretoria are drawing increasing numbers, providing spaces where athletes can hone their skills.
Momentum around the sport is also growing beyond South Africa, from Algeria to Zimbabwe, Cape Town to Cairo, with skating and roller sports thriving among the urban youth.
In some cities today, some businesses are integrating the sport with hospitality services to attract a youthful clientele. SkateCity Nairobi is a prime example. It’s an indoor skating arena that provides a structured environment for skaters of all levels while offering a mix of amenities and entertainment options.
In North Africa, Casa Skate, a grassroots movement, is nurturing young talent and pushing the sport into mainstream consciousness.
Morocco’s Rachidi Skate Park in Casablanca, the largest in Africa, has been a top training ground for the country’s rising skate talent since its launch in 2018.
Egypt, too, is a stronghold for roller sports. The Wadi Degla Roller Skating Academy in Cairo trains hundreds of athletes, some of whom have competed at regional and international levels.
Established in 2009, the academy has played a crucial role in the sport’s expansion, with more Egyptians taking up rollerblading and artistic skating.
Zimbabwe is also making strides in roller sports, with local skate venues drawing increasing numbers of youth. Harare has seen steady growth in skating culture, with informal skate parks becoming hotspots for talent.
Similarly in West Africa, Ghana has become a rising force in disciplines such as skateboarding, with initiatives such as Surf Ghana and Freedom Skatepark in Accra providing platforms for young athletes. Supported by figures like the late Virgil Abloh, these projects have injected fresh energy into the scene.
A key ongoing trend in the sport is its decentralisation and widespread adoption beyond major cities and towns.
According to Kweyu, “skateboarding is increasingly being viewed as an avenue for self-expression and opportunity, resonating with urban youth.”
“Even in some of the now-developing towns, you will find emerging clubs offering training to teens. A good example is our club. Our youngest trainee is seven years old,” he explained.
The cultural impact of roller sports in Africa extends beyond competition. In Ethiopia, the Addis Girl Skateboarding, a female-only skateboarding group, is challenging gender norms by encouraging more young women to take up the sport.
Similar movements are taking shape in Nigeria, where skateboarding is being intertwined with music and fashion, becoming a symbol of creativity and artistic expression.
The UAE will host the 2026 World Skate Games, with South Africa hoping to build on the momentum to secure the 2028 edition.
Resources:
Sources: Bird Story Agency
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
The Nebraska volleyball team enters the second round of the NCAA tournament after sweeping Long Island on Friday. The Huskers now face the Kansas State Wildcats, who defeated San Diego in five sets.
Nebraska’s offense ranks first nationally with a .352 hitting percentage. The defense is equally impressive, ranking first nationally in opponent hitting percentage at .125.
Junior Harper Murray leads the team with 3.55 kills and 2.15 digs per set and a team high 28 aces. Setter Bergen Reilly runs the offense at an elite level with an average of 10.31 assists and 2.73 digs per set. Middle blocker Andi Jackson is averaging 2.75 kills per set on .467 hitting with 1.13 blocks per set.
Kansas State is in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2021. Lincoln native Shaylee Myers averages 4.76 kills per set, which led the Big 12 Conference.
Nebraska is 83-4 against Kansas State. The teams are 1-1 head-to-head in the NCAA Tournament.
Watch Nebraska volleyball vs Kansas State live on ESPN+
Here’s how to watch Nebraska-Kansas State volleyball on Saturday, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:
What channel is Nebraska volleyball vs. Kansas State on?
TV Channel: N/A
Livestream:ESPN+ (subscriber only)
Nebraska-Kansas State volleyball in the second round of the NCAA tournament can be seen on ESPN+. Huskers Radio Network will have audio coverage of all Nebraska matches on Huskers Radio Network affiliates, Huskers.com and the Huskers app. John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will be on the call. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+.
Nebraska volleyball vs. Kansas State time today
Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
Start time: 7 p.m. CT
The second-round NCAA volleyball tournament contest between Nebraska and Kansas State starts at 7 p.m. CT from the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska volleyball 2025 schedule (30-0, 20-0)
Aug. 22 – vs. Pittsburgh – WIN 3-1 (25-22, 25-11, 20-25, 25-23)
Aug. 24 – vs. Stanford – WIN 3-0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-14)
Aug. 29 – at Lipscomb – WIN 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-15)
Aug. 31 – vs Kentucky – WIN 3-2 (24-26, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 15-8)
Sept. 5 – vs. Wright State – WIN 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-20)
Sept. 7 – vs. California – WIN 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-12)
Nov. 28 – vs. Penn State – WIN 3-0 (25-14, 25-11, 25-14)
Nov. 29 – vs. Ohio State – WIN 3-0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-20)
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
BOSTON, Mass – Boston College Women’s Track & Field began the indoor season at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Saturday. Sydney Segalla highlighted the meet with a facility and school record.
Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener
Ron-Niah Wright ran an 8.04 and Erin Finley ran an 8.47 in the 60m dash.
Segalla clocked a 37.40 to win the 300m event. Her time broke the BU Track & Tennis Center facility record by 0.04 seconds and the BC school record by nearly 2 seconds.
Gina Certo (38.65), Anna Sonsini (38.38), Anna Becker (39.19), and Ava Carter (40.22) also competed in the 300m, each setting top ten all-time marks.
Kyla Palmer and Yaroslava Yalysovetska competed in the 600m. Palmer finished sixth place overall, recording a new personal best of 1:33.13 and moving to second all-time in BC program history. Yalysovetska finished in eighth place at 1:35.52.
Iris Bergman ran a 4:52.06 in the mile for 13th place.
Imogen Gardiner torched her 5000m heat, taking first place with a time of 15:40.39. Her time placed her ninth overall and put her second on BC’s all-time top ten list.
Ella Fadil, Kyra Holland, and Molly FitzPatrick all set top ten program marks in the 5000m. Fadil ran a 15:53.04 for 26th place overall, while Holland finished 31st overall at 15:55.63, and Fitzpatrick finished 55th with a 16:08.26 mark.
Next Up: The Eagles return for the Suffolk Ice Breaker Challenge at the TRACK at New Balance on January 18.
AUSTIN, Texas. — The No. 3 Texas Volleyball team swept No. 25 Penn State (25-16, 25-9, 25-19). The Longhorns are now 25-3 on the season and will compete in the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the 20th-straight season.
Longhorns saw junior Torrey Stafford record a match-leading 21 kills, along with five digs and three blocks. It marks Stafford’s fourth game hitting over .500 this season with a .556 hitting percentage. Freshman Abby Vander Wal added 10 kills and two blocks while hitting .474. Fellow freshman Cari Spears totaled nine kills with three blocks and three digs. Spears recorded her seventh game over .400 (.467) hitting percentage tonight.
The Longhorns defense put up nine blocks, led by Nya Bunton and Ayden Ames, who each recorded four. It marks the fourth highest total for blocks in a three-set match for Texas. The Lions were limited to a .124 hitting percentage and finished 22 errors. Texas hit .452 as a team, its sixth time this season hitting over .400.
Set One: Penn State was held to a .167 hitting percentage with four service errors and eight attacking errors. Stafford led the set with six kills while hitting .455. Ramsey Gary added five digs for the Longhorns on defense.
Set Two: Texas dominated the second after extending the lead to 19-7 on an 11-0 run, with two consecutive block effort from Spears, Nya Bunton and Stafford. Texas took set two, 25-9. The Longhorns hit .700 while limiting the Lions at -.065. Spears notched six kills while Ella Swindle put up 10 assists. Texas totaled four blocks in the set, with Bunton contributing three.
Set Three: The Longhorns completed the sweep over Penn State, winning the third set 25-19. Stafford registered 11 kills while hitting .611, and Gary added six digs on defense. Saturday’s win marked the 11th-ranked win of the season for the Horns.
Texas will face off against No. 15 Indiana in the third round of the NCAA Tournament with the game time and date TBD.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Highlighted by nine top 10 finishes, Austin Peay State University’s track and field team concluded its first meet of the 2025-26 indoor season at Vanderbilt’s Winter Commodore Challenge, Saturday, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center.
Saturday’s events began with throws, as Emma Tucker highlighted Austin Peay’s performances in the weight throw with a sixth-place finish. The mark was Tucker’s first of two top 10 marks, as she also went on to finish eighth in the shot put later in the afternoon. Freshman China Giaimo paced the Govs in the shot put, recording an 11.98-meter toss in her first collegiate meet.
Madelyn Kocik also finished the day with a pair of top 10 performances, beginning with an eighth-place finish in the long jump with a 5.61-meter leap – her best mark since finishing second at the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships. A Portland, Texas native, Kocik later went on to finish fifth in the triple jump with an 11.97-meter mark – the second-best mark of her career and her longest jump since recording a 12.12-meter jump last season at Vanderbilt’s Commodore Challenge (Jan. 11).
Three Governors competed in the 600-meter for Austin Peay with all three finishing in the top 10. Sophomore Taylin Segree paced the trio with a 1:33.28 time and fifth-place finish, while Alexis Arnett (1:34.03) and Mia McGee (1:34.57) finished seventh and 10th, respectively. It was the first time that any of the Govs had competed in the 600 in their collegiate career.
Wrapping up the Govs’ events for the day, Taylah Upshaw placed fourth in the 1,000-meter, setting a personal best with a time of 3:01.03.
Up Next
Austin Peay returns to action in mid-January when it returns to Nashville to the Vanderbilt Invitational, Jan. 16-17, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center
Follow the Govs on Socials
For news and updates throughout the 2025-26 track & field season, follow the Governors on X and Instagram (@GovsXCTF) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com.
The UW-Oshkosh women’s volleyball team celebrates its semifinal win Thursday in the NCAA Division III Championship. Photo by Ashtin Elder of Kodiak Creative.
The University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh women’s volleyball team swept University of La Verne (California) Saturday to claim its first national title and the 51st for UW-Oshkosh.
The championship took place at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center in Bloomington, Illinois, where a busload of Titan students and staff arrived Saturday to cheer on their team.
UWO did not drop a set across its six wins in the national tournament, which is a first in 21 years.
Izzy Coon, Lauren Grier, Callie Panasuk and Samantha Perlberg (Most Outstanding) were all named to the All-Tournament Team.
The team is coached by Jon Ellmann of Neenah, who was inducted into the Wisconsin Volleyball Coach’s Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
DAVENPORT, Iowa– Members of the Wartburg indoor track and field program competed at the Frigid Bee Opener, hosted by St. Ambrose. Maddie Merna was victorious in the 5000m and Hannah Ramsey was victorious in the 800m.
Scoring Link
Women’s Results: 5000m
1 Maddie Merna 17:29.94
2 Karle Kramer 17:57.89
3 Lily Peterson 18:02.58
4 Claire Hoyer 18:09.55
5 Ava Vance 18:17.07
6 Morgan Engel 18:26.72
