Ten days before the 9th Francophonie Games to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a government delegation carried out an inspection visit to the various sites that will host the event. Led by the Minister of Communication, Patrick Muyaya, and the Minister of Sports, François Kabulo mwana Kabulo, this visit aimed to ensure the preparation and availability of infrastructure.
The first stage of the visit took place at the omnisports stadium of the Martyrs of Kinshasa, where all the facilities are ready to host the competition. Then, the delegation went to the Tata Raphaël stadium, where the laying of the synthetic turf and the construction of the Judo and freestyle wrestling hall are being finalized. The tennis court still needs some adjustments, but the prefabricated buildings for the athletes’ accommodation will not be able to be operational before the start of the games. On the other hand, the dining room, the dispensary and the accreditation room are already functional.
The last leg of the visit took place at the University of Kinshasa (UNIKIN), where all preparations are finalized. The athletes are already housed in good conditions, the water and the wifi connection are operational, and the cooks are ready to serve quality meals to the athletes.
In a statement to the press, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya stressed the importance of these games for the DRC. He praised the efforts made to develop and modernize the country’s sports infrastructure in such a short time. He also mentioned the delays encountered in the works, in particular the renovation of the tartans, carried out at the request of the Wallonia Brussels and French cycling federations.
The holding of the Francophonie games in the DRC represents a major challenge for the country, which will be able to benefit from new sports infrastructures at the end of the event. These facilities will help develop the sport and host other international competitions in the future.
In conclusion, despite some delays, preparations for the Francophone Games in the DRC are progressing well. Venues are largely ready to host athletes and the government welcomes efforts to provide modern infrastructure. Let’s hope that these games will take place in the best conditions and will mark a turning point for sport in the DRC.