The Francophonie Games, an unexpected success for the DRC
The ninth edition of the Games of La Francophonie, which took place in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ended successfully. Despite doubts and predictions of failure, this event was hailed as one of the most successful editions in the history of La Francophonie.
The President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, played a key role in the success of these games. Present at the opening and the closing, he brought his support and his moral presence throughout the event. His proximity to the organizing committee, the infrastructure and the public was greatly appreciated. He did not hesitate to inspect accommodation sites, sports competitions and cultural events to ensure that everything was in order.
Preparations for these games have been a priority for the Congolese government. The meetings of the Council of Ministers were devoted to this cause for several weeks. Thanks to this attention and everyone’s involvement, the DRC was able to successfully host the Francophonie festival in its capital.
Skeptics, who doubted the country’s ability to organize such an event, were surprised by the enthusiasm of the public and the performances of the athletes. Zeina Mina, Director of the International Committee of the Francophone Games, even described this edition as a “Congolese miracle”. She was impressed by the quality of the performances and the support of the public, exceeding all expectations.
Regarding the medal table, Morocco has distinguished itself by winning many medals and showing its dominance in sports competitions. But the DRC also shone by climbing into the top 10 of the most medal-winning nations of the event. Individual performances in sports such as boxing, table tennis and wrestling were particularly noteworthy.
This success must inspire the DRC to invest in the development of sport in the long term. The modern infrastructures inherited from these games should be used to train new talents and encourage sports practice across the country. It is also essential to think about the modernization of infrastructures in the provinces, in order to allow the emergence of new talents who are just waiting to be discovered.
In conclusion, the 2023 Francophonie Games in the DRC were a real success, exceeding all expectations. They showed the country’s ability to organize great events and paved the way for the development of sport and culture. It is now up to the government and sports stakeholders to learn from this experience and pursue efforts to promote Congolese talent on the international stage