January 15, 2001 (11:30 a.m. EDT) No. 5

SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CONFERENCE OF

YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTERS TO VISIT CANADA

The Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), today announced that the Secretary General of the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers (CONFEJES), Victor Kouassi, will visit Canada from January 16 to 20. CONFEJES established the Games of La Francophonie International Committee, and entrusted it with the mandate to organize the Games.

"This visit of the Secretary General provides Canada with an excellent opportunity to present a progress report on the preparations for the fourth edition of this important and unique sport and cultural event, which will take place in Ottawa-Hull from July 14 to 24, 2001," said Mr. Duhamel. "We are very proud of Canada's achievements in preparing to welcome the most important delegation of athletes and artists from the countries and governments of La Francophonie."

While in Ottawa, Secretary General Kouassi will meet with Minister Duhamel to discuss the agenda of the 28th Session of the CONFEJES, which will take place in Cairo, Egypt, from February 15 to 18. A Canadian delegation will attend.

Mr. Kouassi will also meet with representatives of the Canadian Secretariat for the Games of La Francophonie, which are State Games as opposed to other games that are governed by sports organizations and entrusted to cities. Mr. Kouassi will then meet with representatives of the Canadian International Development Agency and of the Games of La Francophonie Organizing Committee, the non-profit organization mandated by the Government of Canada to ensure the organization and co-ordination of the Games in Canada.

The Secretary General will then travel to Quebec to continue his series of meetings.

"Mr. Kouassi's visit is an excellent opportunity for Canada to reinforce its relationship with the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers," concluded Mr. Duhamel.

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Backgrounder

CONFERENCE OF YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTERS

Established in 1969 to meet the common desire of member countries of La Francophonie to establish policies for the promotion and protection of young people, the Conference of Youth and Sports Ministers brings together representatives of more than 35 countries. The governments of Quebec and New Brunswick are active participants during CONFEJES meetings, while Ontario and Manitoba are represented in the Canadian delegation.

Through its activities, CONFEJES seeks to create conditions that will foster the social and professional development of young people by establishing socio-educational structures and making sport a component of continuing education and social development.

This permanent conference has access to various funds, including the Youth Development Fund, managed in co-operation with the Intergovernmental Agency of La Francophonie and the French Olympic Preparation Fund. Since it was established in 1975 by Canada, the Canadian Fellowship Program has enabled more than 400 people to be trained as executives of youth and physical education associations. New contributors are involved in this program, now called the CONFEJES Executive Training Program.

CONFEJES is also mandated to implement and ensure the longevity of the Games of La Francophonie -- an initiative based on a suggestion made at the Quebec Summit. The conference set up an international committee that is responsible for organizing the games every four years.

The Games of La Francophonie adopted an original format involving both sport and cultural events in order to create a forum for exchanges among participants from member countries. The first games were held in Morocco (1989), followed by France (1994) and Madagascar (1997). Canada is privileged to organize the fourth edition of the Games, which will take place in the Ottawa-Hull region in July 2001.

Internet sites of the Games of La Francophonie 2001:

Canadian Heritage -- http://www.pch.gc.ca/francophonie2001/english.htm

The Games of La Francophonie Organizing Committee -- http://www.jeux2001.ca