Games of La Francophonie 2021: the DRC requests a postponement to the summer of 2022

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requests a postponement "to the summer of 2022" of the next Games of La Francophonie, scheduled from July 23 to August 1, 2021 in Kinshasa, ensures the International Games Committee (CIJF) in a press release. The CIJF evokes the international context, linked to the coronavirus pandemic, and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games on the same dates as its flagship event.

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The next Games of La Francophonie will probably not take place in 2021 and this is anything but a surprise. A month ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the postponement of the Tokyo Games from 2020 to July 23-August 8, 2021. Exactly at the same time as the Games of La Francophonie Kinshasa: July 23-August 1, 2021…

The IOC thus plunged the DRC and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) into embarrassment. Athletes will not be able to participate in both events at the same time. And they will necessarily favor Tokyo 2021 if they are qualified.

At the beginning of April, the Congolese authorities and the International Committee for the Games of La Francophonie (CIFJ) therefore mentioned a one-year postponement. An idea formalized this April 23.

" It is not a unilateral will of the DRC "

"  An official letter signed by the Minister of State, Minister of Cooperation, Regional Integration and Francophonie, Mr. Pépin Guillaume Manjolo, was sent to the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Ms. Louise Mushikiwabo asking, after consulting the President of the Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo, Head of State, Mr. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, a postponement of the 9th Games of La Francophonie to the summer of 2022  ", ensures a press release from the CIJF.

"  It is not a unilateral will of the DRC, it is a discussion between the OIF and the DRC ," emphasizes Pépin Guillaume Manjolo, who is also the head of the National Committee of the Games of La Francophonie in Kinshasa. The Covid-19 has disrupted most international activities. The Olympics have been postponed for a year. The same athletes are involved in both the Francophone Games and the Olympic Games. Consequently, there had to be some sort of discussion between the OIF and the IOC in order to be able to ensure the appropriate deadlines for these Games of La Francophonie. At the end of the discussions with the OIF, there was an option : that of postponing a year after the Olympic Games  ”.

More time for the DRC…

This option, which has yet to be validated by the CIJF, has one advantage: it gives the Congo more time to be ready on time. The DRC has indeed recovered the organization of the 9th Games of La Francophonie in July 2019 only. Because these were initially to take place in New Brunswick, chosen in April 2016. But this Canadian province officially renounced it in February 2019, following a political and financial imbroglio around the cost of the Games.

Pépin Guillaume Manjolo assures, however, that his country would have done very well without this report: “  The DRC was able to meet the deadlines for these Games. But the costs were going to be a little higher since, usually, the host country is given more or less four years to prepare. And then the DRC, with its political situation, namely the elections and the advent of the government, had a little less time than the countries that organized past editions. So the costs were going to be much higher. Whereas now, with the additional delays, the cost will be less. We can easily manage the situation at a lower cost. That is the only advantage.  "

… But a big calendar problem

A big drawback is also on the horizon: that of the sports calendar. There is certainly neither the Olympic Games nor the Football World Cup in the summer of 2022. On the other hand, during this period already rich in multisport events (Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, European multisport Championships, etc.) added events such as the World Championships in Athletics or the Mediterranean Games, also postponed by a year because of the Olympic Games. In short, there is almost no time left available during the period June-September 2022.

The CIJF and its Orientation Council must now work together to find a solution. Officially, a postponement to 2023 of these Games - which have known many vicissitudes - is not on the agenda. "  Let's not go quickly trio in work , sweeps Pépin Guillaume Manjolo. Let's stay with the 2022 option. It seems wiser to me than considering other options  ”.

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