| IX Jeux de la Francophonie | |
| Host City: | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Nations: | 34 |
| Athletes: | 3,000 |
| Opening: | 28 July 2023 |
| Closing: | 6 August 2023 |
| Opened By: | Félix Tshisekedi |
| Stadium: | Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte |
| Previous: | 2017 |
| Next: | 2027 |
| Website: | https://kinshasa2023.org/ |
The 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IXieme 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.
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.
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.
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, 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. 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]
| 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) |
| 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 |
Final medal tally below.
| Men's team | Babacar Diène Mamadou Diouf Modou Faye Gora Niang Siny Sembène | Djamilou Bakoye Bajini Noura Hassane Salou Aboubacar Ibrahim Mahaman Mansour Issa Saley Zakirou Zakari Abdourahamane | Iyassa Bado Karim Basongo Koni Diallo Siaka Konate Kevin Mosse | ||
| Men's 66 kg | |||||
| Men's 76 kg | |||||
| Men's 86 kg | nowrap | nowrap | |||
| Men's 100 kg | |||||
| Men's +100 kg | nowrap | ||||
| Women's team | Rose Namondo Kombe Natacha Nabaina Blodine Nyeh Ngui Rosine Ntsa Assouga Pélagiie Wilita | valign=top | Bamdra Eldjoumba Bamaye Godah Samsia Gassida Lubahitar Josta Issa Zara |  Congo, the Democratic Republic of theDjenny Boenga Eyale Ndombe Kiengi Prisca Madunu Mira Mbala Rosie Tabora | |
| Women's 48 kg | |||||
| Women's 53 kg | |||||
| Women's 58 kg | |||||
| Women's 63 kg | |||||
| Women's 70 kg | |||||
| Women | nowrap | Aminata Tall Seynabou Ndoye Seynabou Dieye Mame Coumba Fall Coumba Niang Julie Dacosta Aminata Ly Khadija Faye Ndioma Kane Aissatou Mame Fall Khadidiatou Bigue Sarr Laurence Sabine Diedhiou | nowrap valign=top | Michelle Noelle Nkolo Alie'A Vafon Joko Sema Ekah Paule Nkwetchou Njoukwe Salomé Bella Belong Loica Djuessie Youta Myriam Guiolobo Josiane Feumba Damaris Phalonne Emedie Audrey Batchaya Djofang Josiane Tcheumeleu Tientcheu | nowrap | Harisoa Hajanirina Nahitantsoa Rakotobe Marion Rasolofoson Elinah Ranarisaona Setratiana Manohisoa Avotra Marson Minaoharisoa Jaofera Malala Rasendrarison Harimihanta Andriatahina Jessica Vavisoa Angelissa Velontiana Lalaina Rasoanomenjanahary |
| Creative dance | ||||
| Digital creation | ||||
| Hip-hop dance | ||||
| Juggling | ||||
| Literature | ||||
| Painting | ||||
| Photography | ||||
| Puppetry | ||||
| Sculpture | ||||
| Song | ||||
| Storytelling |
| Men's road race | nowrap | nowrap | |||
| Women's road race | nowrap |
| Men's 60 kg | ||||
| Men's 66 kg | ||||
| Men's 73 kg | ||||
| Men's 81 kg | ||||
| Men's 90 kg | ||||
| Men's 100 kg | ||||
| Men's +100 kg | ||||
| Women's 48 kg | ||||
| Women's 52 kg | ||||
| Women's 57 kg | ||||
| Women's 63 kg | ||||
| Women's 70 kg | ||||
| Women's 78 kg | ||||
| Women's +78 kg | ||||
| Mixed team | Team Mbuji-Mayi | Team Paris | nowrap | Team Bukavu |
| Team Beyrouth | ||||
| Men's singles | ||||
| Women's singles | ||||
| Mixed doubles | Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Ryan Desscann Sandhana Desscann | Ylane Batix Juliana Mbock | |
Youssef Ben Attia Fadwa Garci | ||||
| Mixed team | Andrei Eduard Ionescu Elena Adriana Zaharia | Youssef Ben Attia Fadwa Garci | nowrap | Andy Bringaud Louidiglisia Maloufa Minzie |
Saadeddine El Habach Mariam El Habech | ||||
| Men's freestyle 57 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 61 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 65 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 70 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 74 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 79 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 86 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 92 kg | ||||
| Men's freestyle 97 kg | nowrap | |||
| Men's freestyle 125 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 50 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 53 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 55 kg | nowrap | not awarded | ||
| Women's freestyle 57 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 59 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 62 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 65 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 68 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 72 kg | ||||
| Women's freestyle 76 kg | ||||