BUJUMBURA, May 29th (ABP) – The National Olympic Committee (NOC), in collaboration with the French Embassy in Burundi, launched a Project for the Emergence and Promotion of Sportsmen and Sportswomen (PEPS) on Saturday 25 May 2024.
According to NOC President Lydia Nsekera, the introduction of that project is a new stage in the development of sport in our country and a sign of fruitful collaboration between the various stakeholders working for the future of Burundian athletes. “Today, with the launch of PEPS, we are paving the way for the emergence of new sporting talent who will represent our country with honour and pride on the international stage. That ambitious and innovative project will provide Burundian athletes with the resources, coaching and support they need to reach their highest potential”, she declared.
Mrs. Nsekera appealed to all the presidents of the sports federations to get involved in ensuring the success of that project. She also invited other organisations and institutions to become actively involved in the development of Burundian sport.
“Your support, resources and expertise are precious assets that will contribute to the growth and development of our young sportsmen and women”, she stressed.
Christophe Reilhac, Deputy Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Action at the French Embassy in Burundi, said that through that project, France was supporting Burundi in its mission of development and international outreach by building the capacities of talented young sportsmen and women and putting them in a position to perform on the international stage.
According to him, that project forms part of strategic objective (2) of the 2018-2027 NDP, which aims to promote professional and competitive sport, with the development of sports infrastructure as the main lever.
The target date is 2026, thanks to international support and expertise. The project has 4 components. Identifying talent and strengthening clubs by increasing the number of club members in the targeted sports. Monitoring and supporting promising talent will involve identifying young athletes (aged 16 to 25) with the potential to develop at international level. The 3rd component concerns international competitions and mobility, and aims to improve the competitiveness of Burundian athletes. Finally, the project will be coordinated by the NOC. That project is entirely financed by the French Embassy in Burundi, to the tune of 1 million euros, according to Mr Reilhac.