Benin wants to host the tenth edition of the Francophonie Games scheduled for 2027. The information is given on Friday 12 May 2023 par Paulin Dohon Agbetokpanhoun.
Guest on Café media Plus to talk about the actions carried out in Benin during the month of La Francophonie 2023, the Secretary General of the Permanent National Commission of La Francophonie (CNPF) seemed reassuring. According to Paulin Agbetokpanhoun, Beninese diplomacy has already set in motion to garner the support of several other nations. « 14 French-speaking countries of West Africa will be contacted to rally the Beninese candidacy,” he said while adding : “The Head of State of Benin, Patrice Talon gave firm instructions to have Benin apply for the tenth edition, the closing of which is set for the 30 September 2023.
Only that Benin has a competitor and not the least; Armenia. Do we ever know, other applications may be added before the closing date. More, for the time being, the Eastern European country has lined up in the starting block. Faced with this competition, Benin already ticks certain boxes according to the Permanent Secretary of the National Commission of the Francophonie. “There is social stability and peace”, he indicated.
Immediate neighbor of Russia and Ukraine, they say, “Benin’s competitor for the organization of the 10th edition of the Francophonie Games is in a region currently in the throes of war. Apart from this favorable geographical position for Benin, there are also the infrastructures that are being put in place. Benin competes in terms of roads, playground, hotels with standards that meet certain international standards. There is also the ambition of the government of President Talon Patrice to reveal itself not only through tourism and sport. The organization of world bowling championships would be the other advantage”.
With as many strings as Benin has to tip the scales on their side, Paulin Agbetokpanhoun, Secretary General of the Permanent National Commission of La Francophonie (CNPF) remains confident that the Beninese candidacy will succeed if the Minister of Sports Oswald Homeky with his team gets up early to carry out joint and concerted actions with his colleague for Foreign Affairs Aurélien Agbénonci for this purpose. The benefits for Beninese youth and especially for the development of our country are immense if Benin manages to receive the anointing of the International Organization of La Francophonie to organize these 10th games..
Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)