The 9th Games of La Francophonie are approaching

The 9th Games of La Francophonie are fast approaching and will be held in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. From 28 July to 6 August 2023, young people, sports, the arts, and the French-speaking world will come together for an exceptional event under friendship and sharing. The Games, which have been held every four years since their inception in 1989, are an international event bringing together the member countries of La Francophonie, mainly French-speaking nations and former French colonies.

The ninth edition of the Games of La Francophonie, under the aegis of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), promises to be a multicultural event celebrating the diversity and richness of La Francophonie. One of the unique aspects of these Games is that they combine artistic and sporting competitions. In addition to sporting events such as athletics, basketball, football, judo, swimming and tennis, participants will also have the opportunity to take part in cultural competitions featuring singing, dancing, poetry, photography, sculpture and painting.

The event is of particular importance to the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was chosen as host because of its cultural wealth and economic potential. The Games of La Francophonie provide a unique platform for member countries to strengthen their diplomatic and economic ties. They provide an opportunity for companies and investors from the Francophonie to meet and explore new business opportunities.

Countries taking part in the games

The list of countries taking part in the 9th edition of the Games of La Francophonie is impressive. They include nations such as Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, New Caledonia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Chad, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

The sports disciplines selected for these games

The diversity of sports played at the Games of La Francophonie is also remarkable. The sports disciplines vary from one edition to the next, but some have been recurrent in the past, such as athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, handisport, handball, judo, table tennis and wrestling. For the 2023 edition, the sports on the programme include:

• Athletics (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Women’s basketball (w) (18-25 years)
• Men’s football (m) (under 20s)
• Handisport (athletics) (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Judo (m/f) (18-25 years)
• Wrestling: African wrestling and freestyle wrestling (m/f) (18-30 years)
• Table tennis (m/f) (18-21 years)
• Road cycling (m:19-25 years/f:19-35 years), Animated discipline
• Nzango, demonstration discipline

It should be noted that the list of sports and cultural disciplines may change from one edition to the next, as the Games of La Francophonie are constantly open to new sports.

Cultural events

The cultural events organised during the Games of La Francophonie are an opportunity to celebrate the artistic and cultural diversity of the participating countries. These events include

• Street arts: hip-hop (dance), giant puppets and freestyle ball juggling (m/f) (aged 18-35)
• Visual arts: painting, photography and sculpture/installation (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Singing (m/f) (aged 18-35)
• Storytelling (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Creative dance (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Literature (short stories) (m/f) (18-35 years)
• Digital creation (m/f) (18-35 years)

Talented singers from across the French-speaking world will perform in the singing competition, offering a true discovery of exceptional voices and Francophone music. Dancers will be showcasing their unique talents and dance styles in the dance competition, creating a colourful spectacle that highlights the diversity of Francophone dance. Poets will have the opportunity to share their creations during the poetry competition, allowing everyone to appreciate the richness of the French language through inspiring verses and words. Photographers from across the Francophonie will be showcasing their captivating work in the photography competition, reflecting the diversity of French-speaking countries and cultures. Finally, sculptors and painters will be showcasing their creations in the sculpture and painting competition, offering a unique opportunity to discover exceptional works of art and celebrate artistic creativity.

The sites in Kinshasa where the games will be held

The Games of La Francophonie will be held at eleven carefully selected historic sites in Kinshasa. These sites include emblematic venues such as the Tata Raphaël stadium and the Martyrs stadium, which each have a capacity of 80,000. The University of Kinshasa, the Interchange, the People’s Palace, the municipal fields of Barumbu and Matete, the Limete Interchange, the Academy of Fine Arts, the Wallonie-Bruxelles Centre, the French Institute and the National Museum are also among the historic sites that will host the sporting and cultural competitions. These sites symbolise the cultural and historical wealth of the DRC and will help to make the Games of La Francophonie even more memorable.

Finally,

The Games of La Francophonie in the DRC will take place from 28 July to 6 August 2023, bringing together talented artists and sportspeople from all five continents to proudly represent their respective countries. This major event, organised by the Comité International des Jeux de la Francophonie (CIJF) and the Comité National des Jeux de la Francophonie (CNJF) under the aegis of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), will showcase eight sporting disciplines and twelve artistic fields. It will provide a unique opportunity for young talents from the French-speaking world to meet, share their cultures and promote social cohesion.

The Games of La Francophonie celebrate the cultural and sporting diversity of the member countries of La Francophonie and aim to promote peace, development, the French language, cultural and linguistic diversity and excellence in sport and culture. This international event provides a unique platform for young artists and sportspeople to showcase their talent and promote friendship and cooperation between French-speaking nations. If you would like to find out more about the Games of La Francophonie or take part in this exceptional event, we invite you to visit the official Games of La Francophonie website for the latest information.