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<title>SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CONFERENCE OF YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTERS TO VISIT CANADA</title>
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<p><font face="Arial"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong></strong></font><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>January 15, 2001 (11:30 a.m. EDT) No. 5</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE CONFERENCE OF </strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTERS TO VISIT CANADA</strong></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"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."</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Secretary General will then travel to Quebec to continue his series of meetings.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">"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.</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial">- 30 -</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">For further information, media representatives may contact:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Media Relations Office</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">(613) 995-1874</font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>Backgrounder</strong></font></p>
<p align="CENTER"><font face="Arial" size="+1"><strong>CONFERENCE OF YOUTH AND SPORTS MINISTERS</strong></font><font face="Arial"></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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</font><font face="Arial"> 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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">CONFEJES is also mandated to implement and ensure the longevity of the Games</font><font face="Arial"> 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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Internet sites of the Games of La Francophonie 2001:</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">Canadian Heritage -- <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203243/http://www.pch.gc.ca/francophonie2001/english.htm">http://www.pch.gc.ca/francophonie2001/english.htm</a></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial">The Games of La Francophonie Organizing Committee -- <a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220203243/http://www.jeux2001.ca/"></font><font face="Arial">http://www.jeux2001.ca<u></a> </u></font></p>
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