The inauguration of the Japanese-funded Judo Sports Center in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) marks an important milestone for the promotion of sports in the country. The Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Security and Customary Affairs, Peter Kazadi, and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to the DRC, Minami Hiro, officially opened this sports complex on September 9, 2023.
This project, financed to the tune of thirteen million US dollars by the Japanese Government, is part of the “Sport for Tomorrow” initiative which aims to promote sports throughout the world. With a seating capacity of 800, the Judo Sports Center offers practice space for various disciplines such as judo, karate, basketball and volleyball.
The objective of this sports center goes beyond simple sports practice. It aims to promote peaceful cohabitation between the Congolese national police and the civilian population, while encouraging the supervision and development of young people through sport. It is with this in mind that the center was set up within the General Police Station, in order to restore the population’s confidence in the police and promote lasting social collaboration.
The Japanese Ambassador to the DRC underlined the importance of this sports center as part of the projects to professionalize the Congolese police, supported by the Japanese government. He also called on the Congolese national police to guarantee the sustainability of this place of exchanges between police and civilians.
Construction work on the Judo Sports Center was carried out by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and began in May 2021. This inauguration marks a step forward in promoting the sport and collaboration between the police and the population in the DRC.
Sources:
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