2023 Jeux de la Francophonie


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The 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IXes Jeux de la Francophonie (French for 9th Francophone Games), informally Kinshasa 2023 (Lingala: Kinsásá 2023), were a multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 6, 2023, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] This was the first edition of the games to be hosted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

IX Jeux de la Francophonie
Host cityKinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nations34
Athletes3,000
Opening28 July 2023
Closing6 August 2023
Opened byFélix Tshisekedi
Main venueStade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte
Websitehttps://kinshasa2023.org/

← 2017

2027 →

Originally awarded on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe.[2] On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues.[3] The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.[4]

In 2020, the games were moved from 2021 to 2022 to avoid clashing with the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.[5] They were postponed once again in 2022, to 2023 due to delays.[6]

Several countries withdrew from the games or sent reduced delegations due to health and safety concerns including team Canada, Quebec,[7] New Brunswick [8] and France.[9]

Among the interested hosts were Moncton-Dieppe, New Brunswick, Sherbrooke, Quebec and Guadeloupe.[10] After the advisory committee of the international committee of the Francophonie Games decided to support New Brunswick, the Quebec government announced that it was joining the consensus reached, would step aside and support New Brunswick's bid.[11] The games were officially awarded in Paris on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe as the sole remaining bid.[2]

Venues for the games were to include Universite de Moncton's Moncton Stadium, and facilities at Mount Allison University and Crandall University. New Brunswick Community College in Dieppe was expected to host the event's cultural activities.[12] Up to 4,000 athletes and artists were expected to participate.

Initially expected to cost $17.5 million, costs grew by 664 per cent to $130 million.[13] On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues.[3]

The city council of Sherbrooke, Quebec passed a motion in February 2019 expressing support for hosting the game provided the city receive financial support from the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Quebec.[14]

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie issued a new call on 1 March 2019 for bids to host the games with a deadline of 31 May 2019 for submissions.[14] The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.[4]

Less than a month before the Games, several teams withdrew due to health and safety concerns. Quebec canceled its participation,[7] while Canada and New Brunswick participated with reduced delegations.[15][8] France limited itself to a few events, refusing, among other things, to send participants for athletics and cycling events.[9] Wallonia-Brussels only sent participants for cultural events, expressing concerns about the state of sports infrastructure.[9] Some delegations, including the Canadian one, hired additional security teams.[16]

The general secretary of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, did not attend the opening ceremony of the games.[17] Against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, she claims that her invitation was never sent to her. She was replaced by Caroline St-Hilaire, administrator of the OIF.

In October 2023 Nicolas Kazadi, the Congolese Minister of Finance, estimated that the cost of the games was ultimately multiplied by seven. According to figures published by the minister, the initial budget of $48 million ultimately reached $324 million.[18]

Full members, associate members and observer members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie are eligible to participate. 34 of 61 members participated in the games.[19][20]

Participating members
Non-Participating members
Venue Sports
Stade des Martyrs - Terrain annexe Athletics, Para-athletics
Stade des Martyrs - Gymnasium Basketball
Stade des Martyrs Football (Final and Semi-finals)
Stade de Barumbu Football (Group stage)
Stade Tata Raphaël Football (Group stage)
Stade Tata Raphaël - Gymnasium Judo, Wrestling (Freestyle)
Stade Tata Raphaël - Salle de Tennis de Table Table tennis
Esplanade Fikin Wrestling (African)

[21]

Venue Event
National Museum of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Painting, Photography, Sculpture
Echangeur de Limete Hip-hop dance, Juggling, Puppetry
Palais du Peuple Song
Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles Storytelling
Institut Français - Halle de la Gombe Digital creation
Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles Literature

[22]

Final medal tally below.

  *   Host nation (DR Congo)

  1. ^ "KINSHASA 2023". Jeux de la Francophonie. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "New Brunswick will officially host the 2021 Francophonie Games". Government of New Brunswick. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Jacques Poitras (30 January 2019). "New Brunswick cancels plan to host 2021 Francophonie Games". CBC. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Francophonie Games in Kinshasa moved back to 2022". 23 April 2020.
  5. ^ "Francophonie Games in Kinshasa moved back to 2022". Inside the Games. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Delays forces Francophone Games postponement for second time". 11 February 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Le Québec n'enverra pas d'athlètes ni d'artistes aux Jeux de la Francophonie". Radio Canada (in French). 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Dans un contexte d'incertitude, le N.-B. réduit sa délégation aux Jeux de la Francophonie". Radio Canada (in French). 8 June 2023. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Kinshasa confronté à plusieurs désistements aux Jeux de la Francophonie". l'Equipe (in French). Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Présentation de la France (Guadeloupe)". Jeux de la Francophonie. 10 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  11. ^ "New Brunswick now only bidder for 2021 Games of La Francophonie". Government of New Brunswick. Archived from the original on 15 July 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  12. ^ "Hosting 2021 Francophonie games 'almost a done deal,' says Moncton". CBC News. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. ^ Magee, Shane (15 December 2018). "The 2021 Francophonie Games mess, explained". CBC. Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Call for bids to revive 2021 Francophonie Games after New Brunswick axes event". National Post. Canadian Press. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Team Canada is on its way to the 2023 Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa". Newswire. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023. Quebec announced on June 27 that it would not be sending any artists or athletes to the 2023 Kinshasa Games.
  16. ^ Dufresne, Julie (19 July 2023). "Ottawa enverra une délégation aux Jeux de la Francophonie malgré les risques". CBC Radio Canada (in French). Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  17. ^ "À Kinshasa, des Jeux de la francophonie sous haute tension". jeune afrique (in French). Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Pourquoi Nicolas Kazadi épingle la gestion des Jeux de la francophonie en RDC". jeune afrique (in French). Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  19. ^ "ÉTATS ET GOUVERNEMENTS PARTICIPANTS". Jeux de la Francophonie (in French). Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  20. ^ "PAYS PARTICIPANTS". Jeux de la Francophonie. Archived from the original on 24 December 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  21. ^ "SITES SPORTIFS". Jeux de la Francophonie. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  22. ^ "SITES CULTURELS". Jeux de la Francophonie. Retrieved 24 December 2023.