The Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa 2023: a memorable edition
The ninth edition of the Games of La Francophonie ended with overflowing enthusiasm. From start to finish, the Head of State Félix Antoine Tshisekedi was exceptionally involved, providing moral support for this major event. The preparations were carefully monitored by the organizing committee and the Congolese authorities, in order to guarantee the success of these games.
Despite doubts and pessimistic predictions, the Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa were hailed as the most successful edition in the history of La Francophonie. Zeina Mina, the Director of the International Committee of the Games of La Francophonie, did not hesitate to qualify this achievement as a “Congolese miracle”. The performances of the athletes, the enthusiasm of the public and the quality of the infrastructures were widely appreciated.
On the sporting level, Morocco dominated the medal table, demonstrating its supremacy in several disciplines. As for the Democratic Republic of Congo, it surprised by climbing into the top 10 of the most medal-winning nations of this edition, thanks in particular to the excellent results in individual sports.
This successful participation in the Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa is a real lesson for the DRC. The country now has world-class infrastructure, such as stadiums, sports halls and table tennis courts, which offer great opportunities to train and develop Congolese sporting talents.
However, it is regrettable that cycling has not benefited from these new infrastructures and remains dependent on the roads of the capital. It is therefore essential that the government consider a long-term program for the modernization and implementation of sports and cultural infrastructures in all the provinces. This will stimulate talent development and promote sports practice across the country.
In conclusion, the Games of La Francophonie Kinshasa 2023 will be remembered as an exceptional edition. The DRC has taken up the challenge brilliantly and demonstrated its potential in the sports field. Now is the time to capitalize on this success and put in place a long-term strategy to support and promote Congolese sport