NICE, FRANCE(GNB) – The Canada-New Brunswick delegation has arrived in Nice, France, for the VII Games of La Francophonie.
 
The 37-member New Brunswick group joined the other 3,000 participants who have come from every corner of the international Francophonie. The Games bring together athletes and artists in a unique style of international competitions.

“I am pleased to see that our athletes and artists are here in France,” said Jean-Luc Benoit, Chef de Mission for the Canada-New Brunswick delegation. “I know that they will have an interesting time here. We are going to take part in the spectacular opening ceremonies on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 7, which will certainly get us into the spirit of these competitions. I predict that our athletes and artists will perform well.”

The New Brunswick delegation is made up of athletes competing in athletics, judo, and wrestling, and artists involved in photography, literature (short story), storytelling, and painting.

New Brunswick will take part in its first events on Sunday, Sept. 8, in freestyle wrestling, with Morgan St-Laurent (-66 kg) and Grayson St-Laurent (-84 kg) competing for the men and Samantha Stewart (-55 kg) competing for the women. Wrestling competitions will continue on Monday and Tuesday. Judo will take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the next week. Athletics will be held on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The artists will exhibit their work and certain openings will be held on Sunday, including photography with Jaret Belliveau. The first group of storytellers hits the stage on Sunday. For the most part, medals will be awarded to the artists on Friday, Sept. 13.

Closing ceremonies will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15.

The young New Brunswickers will be staying on a university campus in Nice and will have the opportunity to participate in the various key events of these competitions, which are being held for the second time in France. The Games were held previously in Paris in 1994.

TV5 television will have daily reports on the Games.


06-09-13