The decision on a new director for the Francophone Games is not taken lightly. A multi-sport competition of such magnitude requires a highly-qualified director to steer it expertly.
A perfect match to the challenge has been recently appointed, a Lebanese woman, an athlete expert holder of a doctorate in Physical Education and Management.
A former Lebanese Olympic athlete with more than a record in the Lebanese athletics, Dr. Zeina Mina was the head of Sports Academy in the private Antonine University in Lebanon.
In 1984, she represented Lebanon at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Among the 22 Lebanese participants, she was the only female athlete for Lebanon in the tournament.
Her journey in athletism and sports’ expertise took to the next level when she was called to co-organize the Francophone Games in Lebanon in 2009 under the significant theme of Solidarity, Diversity, and Excellence.
Today, appointed the Director of Francophone Games, she becomes the first Lebanese woman to hold that esteemed yet challenging position, which she will ace no doubt.
Such an important appointment couldn’t pass without a public congratulation from our Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants. Praising Dr. Mina’s “broad scientific and cultural background” and pointing out to her high expertise and doctorate, H.E. Gebran Bassil stated:
“The appointment came as a result of a strong follow-up by the Permanent Mission of Lebanon to UNESCO in dedicating the renewed course of cooperation between Lebanon and the Organization.”
Mr. Bassil concluded with, “The ministry looks forward to furthering cooperation with Francophone in the field of sport for sustainable development.”
The Francophone Games, or Les Jeux de la Francophonie, is a unique multi-sport competition that was first launched in 1989 and is held every four years.
Lebanon hosted the sixth edition of the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009 upon its nomination during the 29th Conference of the Ministers of Youth and Sports, held in Beirut in March 2003.
We congratulate Dr. Zeina for her new and well-merited appointment and wish her all the best. She has initiated already her rise to the challenge, embracing this new triumph to Lebanon’s aptitudes for high achievements at the global scale.
We are very thrilled indeed!
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