The Games of La Francophonie are a major event in the international sports calendar. As part of the preparation for the next edition, the National Committee of the IX Games of La Francophonie recently organized test competitions in judo and basketball. These competitions took place in the new gymnasiums built on the site of the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa.
The first test competition took place in the discipline of judo. A hundred athletes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and Angola participated in this competition. After an intense day of fighting, the winners received their medals from the hands of Zeina Mina, director of the International Committee of the Francophone Games, and Isidore Kwandja Ngembo, director of the National Committee.
The second test competition featured women’s basketball teams from Kinshasa. These teams faced each other in a mini tournament, which saw the Franco Afro team take the final victory over the Kinshasa selection, with a final score of 40-23.
These test competitions were of particular importance, because they made it possible to test the new infrastructures and to ensure that they were working properly. They also allowed the various teams of the organizing committee to familiarize themselves with their roles and responsibilities, whether in terms of reception, catering, security, ticketing or even health.
The National Director of the Games welcomed the conduct of these test competitions, stressing that it testified to the exemplary preparation for the upcoming event. He also recalled the importance of preserving the new sports and cultural infrastructures that will be left as a legacy to Congolese youth after the Games of La Francophonie.
These test competitions were therefore a crucial step in the process of preparing for the Games of La Francophonie. They highlighted the quality of the sports facilities, but also the professionalism and commitment of the teams in charge of the organization. The countdown is now on, and all eyes are on the next Jeux de la Francophonie, which promise to be a memorable event for the DRC and the Francophonie as a whole.
(source: Fatshimetry