At New Year wishes ceremony: Minister says gov’t to prioritise infrastructure dev’t in 2024.

He made the declaration during a ceremony in Yaounde on Wednesday February 7. This was during an event organised for him to receive 2024 New Year wishes from collaborators and staff of the ministry.

The event was attended by officials of the central and devolved services of the Ministry of Sports as well as heads of various sports federations in the country.

According to Prof Mouelle Kombi, developing the infrastructure will boost the practice of sports and physical education activities in the country.

He announced amongst others, the construction of 25 sporting facilities in 25 different municipalities nationwide.

“Thanks to one billion CFA francs granted to the decentralised local authorities, the construction of sports facilities and other local infrastructure will continue in 25 councils spread across the 10 regions of Cameroon,” the minister said.

The minister also talked of the completion of works at multipurpose sports training facilities known as Parcours Vita in Maroua and Kribi.

“The Parcours Vita in Kribi, currently under construction, and the one in Maroua, whose construction has received the very high approval of the President of the Republic, will substantially improve local supervision of the population,” Prof Mouelle Kombi said. 

Cameroon currently has Parcours Vitas in Douala, Bamenda, Yaounde, Ngaoundere and Garoua in the Littoral, North West, Center, Adamawa and North regions respectively. 

Besides infrastructure development, the country’s sports boss also said the valorisation of sports and physical education in schools is also in agenda.

Athletes tasked to aim for more

Minister Mouelle Kombi also used the New Year wishes ceremony to challenge Cameroonian athletes to go for more medals in national and international competitions.

The country’s athletes will be lined up in several international competitions in 2024. 

They include the African Games in Ghana, 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, as well as events to be hosted by Cameroon like the Mt Cameroon Race of Hope, Chantal Biya International Cycling Tour and Cameroon International Cycling Tour among others.

Cameroon won a total of 554 medals (215 gold, 168 silver &171 bronze) in all competitions in 2023 and the minister has prescribed hard work, discipline and selflessness in order for them to grab more distinctions.

He particularly praised basketball star, Joel Embiid and Cameroonian fighter-turned boxer, Francis Ngannou for their respective landmark achievements last year. 

Deserving, retired staff recognised

Apart from handshakes, exchange of gifts and pleasantries, some outstanding staff of the Ministry of Sports were distinguished with medals.

They were decorated with medals of the Chancellor of the Order of Sports Valour, Officer of the Order of Sports Merit of Cameroon amongst others. 

Eight other staff of the ministry received Letters of Appreciation from the Minister as they go on retirement after serving the sports community for decades

Prof Minister Kombi challenged his collaborators to be more dedicated and committed in the various tasks assigned them in 2024.