Before Philippe Auguin’s baton led the authorities and the crowd into a superb evening of classical music, captivating an admiring audience with musical sequences where notes and tone bring to life a harmony that evokes the finest sensibility in every listener, that of emotion, the Prefect, Christophe Mirmand, as the representative of the State, and Deputy Mayor Christian Estrosi, in his role as president of the GIP, the organizing body of the 7th Francophone Games, also set the tone, this time verbally, for that day marking -1 year or -365 days from the inauguration.
The Prefect Mirmand emphasized the authority of the State over this event, which will be managed at a national level – the Director General having been appointed by the Government* (Has he already understood the trend of “nissartitude”?) with inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure its success – and, with relevant quotes from Pierre Milza, spoke about the geopolitical impact of sports and their positive values.
Christian Estrosi reminded us that the Francophone Games are the largest sporting and cultural event in the Francophone world. They will also be the most significant sporting event organized in France in 2013.
The numbers speak for themselves: 52 countries have already confirmed their participation, 3,000 participants are expected, along with 200,000 spectatorsยฐ and nearly 50 million television viewersยฐ.
During the Games, Nice will be the capital of the Francophonie!
What a beautiful and unique opportunity to celebrate together this ‘community’ united by language (200 million people are Francophones worldwide, with French spoken in 75 countries) but also by solidarity, diversity, and the excellence of its young athletes.
