2023 Jeux de la Francophonie

The 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IXieme Jeux de la Francophonie (French for 9th Francophone Games), informally Kinshasa 2023 (Kinsásá 2023), were a multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 6, 2023, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. This was the first edition of the games to be hosted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Originally awarded on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe. On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues. The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.

In 2020, the games were moved from 2021 to 2022 to avoid clashing with the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics. They were postponed once again in 2022, to 2023 due to delays.

Several countries withdrew from the games or sent reduced delegations due to health and safety concerns including team Canada, Quebec, New Brunswick and France.

First selection
Among the interested hosts were Moncton-Dieppe, New Brunswick, Sherbrooke, Quebec and Guadeloupe. After the advisory committee of the international committee of the Francophonie Games decided to support New Brunswick, the Quebec government announced that it was joining the consensus reached, would step aside and support New Brunswick's bid. The games were officially awarded in Paris on April 7, 2016, to Moncton and Dieppe as the sole remaining bid.

Venues for the games were to include Universite de Moncton's Moncton Stadium, and facilities at Mount Allison University and Crandall University. New Brunswick Community College in Dieppe was expected to host the event's cultural activities. Up to 4,000 athletes and artists were expected to participate.

Initially expected to cost $17.5 million, costs grew by 664 per cent to $130 million. On January 30, 2019, the New Brunswick government cancelled its commitment to host the games due to funding issues.

Second selection
The city council of Sherbrooke, Quebec passed a motion in February 2019 expressing support for hosting the game provided the city receive financial support from the federal government of Canada and the provincial government of Quebec.

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie issued a new call on 1 March 2019 for bids to host the games with a deadline of 31 May 2019 for submissions. The games were awarded to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo in July 2019.

Controversies
Less than a month before the Games, several countries withdrew due to health and safety concerns. Quebec canceled its participation, while Canada and New Brunswick still participated with reduced delegations. France limited itself to a few events, refusing, among other things, to send participants for athletics and cycling events. Wallonia-Brussels only sent participants for cultural events, expressing concerns about the state of sports infrastructure. Some delegations, including the Canadian one, hired additional security teams.

The general secretary of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, refuses to come to the opening ceremony of the Games. Against a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between Rwanda and the DRC, she claims that her invitation was never sent to her. She was replaced by Caroline St-Hilaire, administrator of the OIF.

In October 2023, a new controversy broke out when it was time to take stock of the Francophonie Games. Nicolas Kazadi, the Congolese Minister of Finance, estimates that the cost of these Games was ultimately multiplied by 7. According to figures published by the minister, the initial budget of $48 million ultimately reached $324 million.

Participants
Full members, associate members and observer members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie are eligible to participate. 34 of 61 members participated in the games.

Sports

 * [[Image:Athletics pictogram.svg|20px|Athletics]] Athletics
 * [[Image:Basketball pictogram.svg|20px|Basketball]] Basketball
 * [[Image:Cycling pictogram.svg|20px|Cycling]] Cycling (road)
 * [[Image:Football pictogram.svg|20px|Football]] Football (soccer)
 * [[Image:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px|Athletics]] Para-athletics
 * [[Image:Judo pictogram.svg|20px|Judo]] Judo
 * [[Image:Table tennis pictogram.svg|20px|Table tennis]] Table tennis
 * [[Image:Wrestling pictogram.svg|20px|Wrestling]] Wrestling (African and freestyle)

Cultural

 * Creative dance
 * Digital creation
 * Hip-hop dance
 * Juggling
 * Literature
 * Poetry
 * Painting
 * Photography
 * Puppetry
 * Sculpture
 * Song
 * Storytelling
 * Traditional inspiration dance

Medal table
Final medal tally below.