Games of La
Francophonie
Sport Competitions
The Games of La Francophonie provide young athletes with the opportunity to participate in an international competition and to distinguish themselves in high-performance sports events, as they did in the past for Bruny Surin (Ottawa, 2001) and Chantal Petitclerc (Paris, 1994). Nearly 140 athletes will take part in a unique experience this fall in Beirut by proudly representing Team Canada in the various sports disciplines scheduled at the Games.
Sport Disciplines Scheduled at the 2009 Games
ATHLETICS: Team Canada has nearly 70 participants. The athletics competitions include 23 events (men’s and women’s):
- rack event – races; hurdle events; relays; and 3,000 meter steeple chase
- long jump, high jump, pole vault and triple jump
- hammer throw, javelin throw, shot put and discus throw
- combined events – men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon
- road races – 20 km marathon and walk for men; 10 km walk for women.
BASKETBALL (women’s): Twelve teams will be participating in the basketball tournament. Only one of the three Canadian delegations—Team Canada-Quebec—is signed up for this event.
BOXING (men’s): An average of 16 fighters will participate in each of the 11 pre-determined weight categories. Team Canada’s boxers were selected based on their results at the 2009 Canadian Boxing Championships and on their performance in international events.
SOCCER (men’s): Twelve teams, or the equivalent of 250 men under age 20, will face each other on the field. Based on a drawing of lots last April, Team Canada was placed in Group C with France, Morocco and the Congo. Team Canada will play its first game against the Congo.
JUDO: This competition will see men and women athletes spar in the seven established weight categories. The Team Canada athletes were selected based on their results at the 2009 Canadian Judo Championships and on their performance in international events.
TABLE TENNIS: Team Canada is one of 24 teams that will be hitting balls back and forth in hopes of winning a medal. Competitions will include men’s singles, women’s singles and mixed doubles.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL (demonstration): Since the first Games in 1989, each host country has been invited to choose an exhibition sport. Lebanon has selected beach volleyball owing to its popularity in Lebanon and in many other countries of La Francophonie. Seventeen men’s teams and 17 women’s teams will face off in this event. Team Canada has a team in both categories.
Selection Process
As for all major sport competitions, Team Canada athletes are chosen according to a selection process determined by each national sport organization, based on excellence criteria specific to each association, while respecting the procedure established by the Comité international des Jeux de la Francophonie.
For More Information
If you’d like to know more about the VI Games of La Francophonie and Canada’s participation, visit our website at:
www.gamesoflafrancophonie2009.pch.gc.ca
The Games of La Francophonie are unique in that they are the only international games that feature both cultural and sport competitions in which athletes and artists receive gold, silver and bronze medals.