Kinshasa will host the XXth Games of La Francophonie scheduled from July 28 to August 6, 2023. A few weeks before the event, Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde presented the progress of preparations for this major Francophone event during his last intervention at the 101st meeting of the Council of Ministers.
Preparations for the IX Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa are now in the decisive phase, with in particular the finalization of operations related to the organization and development of sports venues and infrastructures. Precise arrangements have been made with regard in particular to the accommodation of athletes, catering, security, transport and health.
It is important that each sector of government invests in the success of this event. The steering committee and the national management of the Games were responsible for maintaining the momentum in order to achieve the objectives assigned to them. The Games of La Francophonie aim to promote the French-speaking talents of young people aged 18 to 35.
The last edition held in Côte d’Ivoire in 2017 brought together nearly 3,500 participants, including 2,500 young athletes and artists from 53 countries. This quadrennial competition combines sporting events and cultural competitions.
The Games of La Francophonie were awarded to Kinshasa in 2019 during the 108th session of the Permanent Council of La Francophonie. Initially scheduled for 2021, they were postponed from August 21 to 28, 2022 following the Covid-19 pandemic before finally being scheduled for this year.
This sporting event is a boon not only for French-speaking athletes and artists, but also for the host country, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which hopes to take advantage of the event to boost its economy and tourism by highlighting its tourist attractions and cultural richness