Jeux de la Francophonie

The Jeux de la Francophonie (Francophone Games in English) are a combination of artistic and sporting events for French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989, partly as a counterweight to the Commonwealth Games. They are open to athletes and artists of the 55 member nations, 2 associate member nations and 13 oberver nations of the Francophonie. Canada is represented by three teams: Quebec, New Brunswick (the only officially bilingual Canadian province) and another team representing the rest of the country. The Belgian team is restricted to athletes from the French-speaking areas of the country.

Participation has so far varied between 1,700 and 3,000 athletes and artists.

Venues

* 1st - 1989: Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco
* 2nd - 1994: Paris/Évry-Bondoufle, France
* 3rd - 1997: Antananarivo, Madagascar
* 4th - 2001: Ottawa-Hull, Canada
* 5th - 2005: Niamey, Niger
* 6th - 2009: Beirut, Lebanon

Member Nations or Governments

55 Member Nations or Governments

Events at 2005 Games in Niamey, Niger

ee also

* Commonwealth Games
* Lusophony Games

External links

*fr icon [http://jeux.francophonie.org/ Official site of the Comité international des jeux de la Francophonie]