The IX Games of La Francophonie, scheduled for July 28 to August 6, 2023 in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are arousing both enthusiasm and concern. While Ivorian President Alassane Dramane Ouattara received an official invitation from his Congolese counterpart Felix Tshisekedi to attend the opening ceremony, some French-speaking countries have decided not to participate in this major event.
Among the reluctance expressed was the withdrawal of Quebec, a French-speaking region of Canada, for security and health reasons. New Brunswick, another French-speaking region of Canada, will send a reduced delegation. The Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium has also made it known that it will not participate in sports competitions. Other countries expressed their concerns during the meeting of the Permanent Council of La Francophonie held in Paris last June.
Despite these defections, Kinshasa wants to be optimistic about the success of the Francophone Games. The Congolese capital will host for the first time this major event, which will bring together the best French-speaking artistic and sports talents. The Francophone Games, awarded to the DRC in 2019, were originally scheduled to take place in 2021, but were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The organization of this major event represents a challenge for Kinshasa, both in terms of security and logistics. However, Felix Tshisekedi and his government have affirmed their commitment to ensuring the safety of participants and spectators, as well as the smooth running of competitions.
The Jeux de la Francophonie offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the cultural and sporting diversity within the Francophonie. It is also a privileged moment for young French-speaking talents to make themselves known and demonstrate their know-how in different disciplines.
Be that as it may, the 9th Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa will be an event not to be missed for all lovers of the Francophonie and sport. Let’s hope that this event will take place in the best possible conditions, and that the DRC will be able to prove to the whole world its ability to organize an event of such magnitude