Sports Equity Lab (SEL) has unveiled a 10-metre-tall installation in honour of six iconic sports personalities ahead of the start of the 2023 African Games.

The installation, done at the University of Ghana Stadium, is themed 'Victory in Unity' to help celebrate African Giants.

Renowned icons featured in the lineup include luminaries such as Feryal Abdelaziz, the first female Egyptian karateka to win Olympic gold; Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, the first Ghanaian to qualify for the 2020 Paralympics; Noemi Alphonse, the first Mauritian para-athlete to reach a Paralympic Games final; and Mpumelelo Mhlongo, a multi-world championship Paralympic Games medalist.

The rest are Hellen Obiri, the only woman to have won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track, and cross country; and Abedi Ayew Pele, who is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Speaking ahead of the official unveiling of the initiative, Olympic Gold medalist and Board Member for Sports Equity Lab, Dr. Edwin Moses, explained the decision to celebrate the athletes.

"[Victory in Unity] is a theme that encompasses all the best things that happened in sports," he said.

"Not just on the field but [also] behind the field with people are doing research and identifying subject matter and different topics that sport has the possibility of making significant changes to."

Celebrating the successes of African legends is one thing that rarely happens on the continent, especially in Ghana, where heroes have barely been given their dues.

However, the founder of Sports Equity Lab, Professor Dr Yetsa Tuakli-Wosornu, assures these athletes are well-acknowledged across all parts of the world and shouldn't feel left out.

"We recognise that being an African giant has nothing to do with how you are built, how you are shaped, has nothing to do with your physical configuration. It's all about who you are...," she noted.

"Sports is all about the power of the human spirit to triumph over any adversity and a lot of the athletes I know...are complete giants but they just don't happen to be configured in the same way that we would imagine.

"To all the African giants who have got great spirits, who understand how to use the human spirit to triumph over adversity, to harness resilience to become the champions that you are, we see you, we celebrate you and we love you."

Present at the unveiling of the installation was Nkegbe, captain of Ghana's wheelchair Basketball team, Black Chariots.

The national wheelchair record-holder, who is also part of the six personalities being celebrated, said it feels great to be recognised.

"Sometimes [being celebrated] makes you feel like you have made an impact. So if you see something like this it means your impact on the sports is being felt up there," he said.

"From outside, you feel you have also paid your dues to the development of the nation through the sport."

The installation will officially be open from March 8-10 allowing spectators of the African Games to add their photographs as a symbol of solidarity with the athletes.