The International Francophone Network for Sport (RIFS) celebrated this Friday, May 13, 2022, at the Agora de Koumassi in Abidjan, the glories of Ivorian women’s sport from the 80s to the present day.
They were nearly a dozen from athletics, handball and basketball to receive honor rolls for having hoisted the national colors high for more than thirty years.
It was on the occasion of the third edition of ”Sport and life” of the RIFS, a space for sharing, training and promoting sport, with the theme this year: “Sport with them”.
The choice of theme for this umpteenth edition is not fortuitous, underlines Justin Anzian, president of the RIFS, because women are a privileged target of the Francophonie and especially of the development of the sports economy.
These accolades of this day, therefore, are rightly so. “It is a duty of gratitude for us to honor these women who have made the golden days of sport in Côte d’Ivoire. Whether in national or international competitions,” said Mr. Anzian. This is an opportunity, he says, “to reposition them and show them that we have not forgotten them”.
The first deputy mayor, Gbalé narcisse Toussaint, representative of the first magistrate of the municipality of Koumassi, said he was proud and honored to host this activity dedicated to women.
In her speech, Fofana Sindou, Deputy Director, representing Bertin Koffi, Director General of Sport at the Ministry of Sports praised the RIFS for having put these great ladies in the spotlight in order to make them known. In doing so, the RIFS promotes sport, which is a mission par excellence of the supervisory Ministry, headed by the Minister, Paulin Claude Danho.
Doctor Marie Paule Kodjo, representing the President of the National Commission for Human Rights, also godmother of the ceremony, hoped for her part, that this meeting would make it possible to sensitize public opinion on the need to ensure a better representation of women in sport.
“We must ensure that our girls are educated so that they become professional athletes who carry the Ivorian flag high,” added Dr Kodjo.
Several communications, demonstration, FI Netball (women’s sport derived from basketball), and the atmosphere of the National Elephant Support Committee (CNSE) animated the third edition of ”Sport and life”.
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