All is set for the much-anticipated 2023 Francophonie IX Games underway today.
The opening ceremony is being staged at the iconic Pentecost Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa.
Republican President Fèlix Tshisekedi Tshilombo is gracing the opening ceremony which started at 18:00 hours at the 80,000 capacity arena.
The arena will be a hive of action until 6th August, 2023.
As of Thursday evening, the atmosphere of the games was already visible at Pentecost Martyrs, with security tightened up but with access into the stadium more fluid than in recent past days.
More law enforcement and security officers could be seen deployed at the arena as final preparations were done last night.
Meanwhile, the Congolese government through spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has appealed to residents of the capital city to turn up in numbers this evening to witness the flagging off of the sports festivities.
“On Friday for the opening of the games at the Martyrs stadium, we want everyone to raise their flag to celebrate our country with all the others who will come to us” Muyaya said on Wednesday.
The Francophonie IX Games is set to attract a host of athletes in different sports disciplines from 45 participating nations.
