The Francophone games in Kinshasa are fast approaching, with the arrival of the first delegation from Togo. A team of 14 people came to proudly represent their country at this major sporting and cultural event.
The welcome given to the Togolese delegation was warm, reinforcing their determination to win as many medals as possible. Delegation leader Christophe Agbodo spoke confidently upon arriving at N’djili airport, saying: “We came to take home the gold medals. Those who don’t know us have often afraid of us, we will go easy with them to come away with the best medals.”
However, despite the growing excitement, there is still work to be finalized to prepare the necessary infrastructure for the Games of La Francophonie. The Congolese government wants to be reassuring about the completion of the work before the start of the event. Measures are also taken to respond to concerns raised by participating States, particularly in terms of safety and health.
In terms of security, the Republican Guard was mobilized with 4,500 police officers dedicated to securing the event. As for health, the arrival of 40 ambulances reinforces the medical devices already in place.
In addition, the Congolese National Radio Television (RTNC) was given a batch of high-definition broadcasting equipment, including 4 state-of-the-art control vans and other broadcasting equipment. This equipment will allow the RTNC to broadcast the games of the Francophonie in the best conditions.
Despite these advances, some French-speaking states and governments have decided to withdraw or reduce their delegation for various reasons. Whether it is Quebec which has given up participating, New Brunswick which has reduced its delegation or the Wallonia-Brussels Federation which will not take part in the sporting events, these absences leave a bitter taste in the organization of the event.
The Francophonie Games in Kinshasa promise to be a highlight, combining sport, culture and Francophonie. Despite the challenges, the organizers and the participating delegations are determined to offer an exceptional spectacle and to promote the values of the Francophonie