The Games still hold plenty of surprises, particularly in the village, a bustling temporary city celebrating the Francophonie. This village hosts not only the event’s main partners and officials but also booths from various delegations such as Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, Gabon, Québec, and more: It’s a journey through the richness of Francophonie without leaving the soil of Nice.
As France hosts the Jeux de la Francophonie for the first time, the organization is introducing several innovations. Notably, in the sports events, this marks the debut of para-athletics on the track at the Charles Ehrmann stadium, and there’s a new addition in the cultural encounters with the digital creation competition.
Breaking New Ground at the Games: Para-athletics
For the first time in the history of the Jeux de la Francophonie, para-athletics is underway. The International Committee of the Jeux de la Francophonie (CIJF) collaborated with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) to set up these events. Today, the men’s discus throw and long jump events took place.
Athletics also began with the French 100-meter runner Emmanuel Biron, bronze medalist at the 2012 European Championships, winning his heat and posting the best time across two heats. He has a strong chance of winning the final tomorrow.
Para-athletics and Athletics
The men’s para long jump competition has already delivered its winners: Gold medalist Mhaidi Taoufik (Morocco), Silver medalist Idrissa Sanoussi Issiaka (Niger), and Bronze medalist Martial Quenum Josue (Benin).
For the able-bodied athletes, qualifying events for the men’s 100 meters final, men’s 800 meters, and women’s 400 meters hurdles took place.
Some finals have already occurred. The women’s heptathlon saw Laura Arteil (France) victorious, ahead of Madeleine Buttinger (Canada) and Nadia Chroudi (Tunisia). Pawel Fajdek (Poland) won the men’s hammer throw final with a throw of 78.28 meters, ahead of Frenchman Quentin Bigot (74.60) and Ashraf Elseify of Qatar in third place (72.88).
The men’s discus throw final was won by Mohamed Ali Krid (Tunisia), with Youssef Ouaddali (Morocco) in second place, and Azzeddine Nouiri (Morocco) in third place.
Freestyle Wrestling
Eliminations, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals for both women and men took place throughout the day at Palais Nikaïa.
Football
In Group C, Morocco won their match against Burkina Faso 2 to 0.
Cultural Meetings: Spotlight on Digital Creation, a Brand New Competition
Competitions in song, creative dance, storytelling, literature, visual arts, street arts, and ecological creation (in demonstration) are in full swing, attracting a large and enthusiastic audience.
The novelty of this edition: the digital creation competition. This contest will reward the creation of an audiovisual work on the theme “Human Rights, Peace, and Democracy”. Four international teams remain in the running: France, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Lebanon, and Canada.
