Who will succeed Nice and France as host of the Francophonie Games? The question was on everyone's lips this week at the opening of the debates of the 9rd meeting of the International Committee of the Games of La Francophonie (CIFJ). A meeting organized in Nice, where the next edition of the competition will be held, from September 6 to 15, 2013.
Two African countries are applying to host the event, scheduled for the summer of 2017: Ivory Coast and Chad. Their delegations were present in Nice. They were invited to present their case in detail, during a 30-minute oral presentation, before the CIJF orientation council.
For the occasion, the two countries pulled out all the stops, making up a delegation rich in sporting and political personalities. Côte d'Ivoire, in particular, delegated the Minister of Youth Promotion, Sports and Leisure, Alain Lobognon, the Minister of Culture and Francophonie, Maurice Bandaman, the Ambassador of Côte d'Ivoire in France, Charles Gomis, and the Advisor to the President of the Republic in charge of Youth and Sports, Touré Mamadou.
Verdict: Ivory Coast leads the way. Without ambiguity. Experts from the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) gave it a score of 852,1 points, out of a maximum of 1000. Behind, Chad is several lengths behind, with a score of 754,8 points. Ivorian infrastructure weighed in the balance, notably the Félix Houphouet-Boigny University, where the athletes' village would be located. Unsurprisingly, it was therefore recommended to the CIFJ to choose Ivory Coast for the organization, in 2017, of the 8th Francophonie Games. The final decision must be made on March 15, 2013.
