Playing sport in Bamako: licence, medical certificate, clubs and organising events

Joining a club, getting a licence, setting up a competition: in Mali, playing sport is governed by law no. 2017-037 of 14 July 2017, amended in 2026 by ordinance no. 2026-002/PT-RM of 25 February 2026. Here is what to remember, based on the text published in the Official Journal.

Key points (text checked on 19 October 2026)

• Every sports licence requires a medical certificate from the Sports Medicine Centre, valid for all disciplines except those the doctor excludes.
• Teaching physical education and sport requires prior medical authorisation.
• A sports association is compulsory in every school.
• A sporting event organised in Mali by a foreign operator requires the prior approval of the Minister of Sports.

Recognised forms of sport

Article 11 (new) sorts physical and sporting activities into eleven categories: physical education and sport, school sport, university sport, military sport, sport for people with disabilities, competitive sport, elite sport, high-level sport, sport for all, workplace sport, and traditional games and sports. For this year's competitions, including traditional wrestling at the Biennale sportive, see our page on sport in Bamako in 2026.

The text also defines two structures: the sports company (a legal entity created by a sports association to organise, manage and develop sporting activities) and the sports federation (which brings together amateur and professional structures and holds a delegation to promote, organise and regulate one or more disciplines).

Getting a licence

Article 147 (new) is the most concrete for a player: every sports licence requires a medical certificate issued by the Sports Medicine Centre (Centre de Médecine du Sport), confirming no contraindication, valid for all disciplines except those the doctor mentions. The Centre may authorise other medical structures or staff to issue the certificate.

At school, teaching and practising physical education, including for people with disabilities, require prior medical authorisation (article 17). Fitness checks fall to school and sports medicine in national education, and to the health and sports medicine services in higher education, vocational training, specialised institutions and prisons.

Sport at school and university

School sport is run by the School Sports Federation (articles 19 to 21). Every primary, secondary, technical and vocational school must have a sports association to run school sport. The Federation runs its own competition and helps spot talent with the national federations. A separate section now covers university sport in higher education institutions.

For sport for people with disabilities, setting up sports associations in disability settings is compulsory (article 25), and adapted physical education is compulsory in specialised institutions (article 15).

Organising a sporting event

Any sporting event organised in Mali by a foreign operator requires the prior approval of the Minister of Sports, working with the ministers concerned and, where needed, after hearing the National Olympic and Sports Committee, the National Paralympic Committee or the federation concerned (article 178).

The penalties in article 197 are heavy: two to six months in prison and a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA, or either, for people who organise or take part in events open to international participation without the minister's approval. A legal entity faces a fine of 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA.

In case of serious failings, the minister can also suspend public funding, suspend activities or officers of a federation, league or club, or withdraw a federation's public service delegation (article 183), with a right of appeal.

Who runs the pitches and halls

Decree no. 2026-0271/PT-RM of 5 May 2026 details the sports powers transferred from the State to local authorities. The commune handles the promotion of mass, traditional, workplace and disability sport, sports activity centres and category C and D sports facilities. The District of Bamako (or the region) handles category B ones. Sports facilities are assigned to local authorities by decision of the governor, after the sports technical services give their opinion. It replaces the 2017 decree.

Going further

• The capital's clubs: football in Bamako, Djoliba and Stade malien.
• This year's competitions: sport in Bamako in 2026.
• Founding a club or association: registering an association in Mali.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a medical certificate to join a club in Mali?

For a sports licence, yes: the text requires a medical certificate from the Sports Medicine Centre, or a structure it authorises, confirming no contraindication.

Can I organise an international tournament in Bamako?

You need the prior approval of the Minister of Sports for any event open to international participation or run by a foreign operator, on pain of prison and a fine.

Must schools have a sports club?

Yes: a sports association must be set up in every primary, secondary, technical and vocational school.

Official source (checked on 19 October 2026)

• Official Journal of the Republic of Mali no. 3 of 27 February 2026, ordinance no. 2026-002/PT-RM of 25 February 2026 amending law no. 2017-037 on physical and sporting activities (French), articles 1, 11, 15, 17, 19 to 21, 25, 147, 178, 183 and 197 of the law.
• Official Journal no. 10 of 2026, decree no. 2026-0271/PT-RM of 5 May 2026 setting the detail of powers transferred from the State to local authorities in sport (French).