The IX Games of La Francophonie finally launched in Kinshasa
After two postponements due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the city of Kinshasa is finally hosting the IX Games of La Francophonie. Under the eyes of President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo Tshilombo, the opening ceremony took place at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.
The opening night was marked by three highlights. First, a parade of participating delegations circled the stadium, greeted with warm ovations from the audience. Then, several personalities took the floor to highlight the challenges faced by President Tshisekedi for the organization of these games. The Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs and Francophonie, Christophe Lutundula, hailed the President’s commitment and determination. For its part, the International Organization of La Francophonie expressed its relief and underlined the importance of these games as an expression of our shared humanity.
The highlight of the opening ceremony was the artistic spectacle offered by the Vivendi group. This staged the Congolese culture, highlighting its natural and human wealth and its modernity. Renowned Congolese artists also participated in this stage production.
The day after the opening ceremony, nearly 3,000 competitors aged 18 to 35 competed in 11 artistic disciplines and 9 sports competitions. The games ran until August 8, 2023.
Despite the many obstacles encountered, Kinshasa has demonstrated that the future of La Francophonie is also at stake in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the first French-speaking country by area and second by the number of speakers after France, the DRC has shown its ability to organize an event of this magnitude.
The Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa are an opportunity to highlight the cultural, sporting and artistic diversity of French-speaking countries, thus promoting exchanges and rapprochement between peoples. This event also contributes to strengthening the influence of the French language on an international scale. The games offer participants the opportunity to show their talent and creativity, in a spirit of competition but also of brotherhood.
To follow the news of the Francophone Games in Kinshasa, do not hesitate to consult our blog where you will find detailed articles on the various competitions and events that will take place throughout this historic edition