French Embassy, GOA and UNICEF Guyana ink partnership ahead of Paris 2024

With preparations underway for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the French Embassy, the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and UNICEF Guyana have signed on a partnership to promote shared values among athletes through several joint events in the lead up to the Games.

The signing of the partnership took place at the Guyana Olympic Association headquarters with Godfrey Munroe, the President of the Association; Jean-Jacques Forté, Chargé d’Affaires and Head of the French Diplomatic Bureau in Guyana; Nicolas Pron, UNICEF Area Representative to Guyana and Suriname; and Cristy Campbell, Vice-President of the Guyana Olympic Association.

The new partnership is expected to see a kick start to a series of joint events, including putting youth at the heart of the Games with actions in schools such as an essay competition, sporting events and meetings with athletes, promoting inclusive games featuring athletes with a disability, advancing gender equality, organising environmentally friendly games, and encouraging the learning of French as official Olympic language.

Jean-Jacques Forté expressed his delight in the partnership, especially considering France is organising the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.

“It’s going to be a very fruitful partnership as we organise events together to promote the Games. We also want to promote the Olympic values and the values we share together with France and Guyana and universally,” he said.

On the note of shared values, he highlighted that the Games that are being organised will be sustainable games.

“This will be reflected in all the buildings that have been constructed in France. The first building of the Olympic village has recently been inaugurated and is at the very frontline in the use of sustainable development and the fight against climate change,” he explained.

Godfrey Munroe said he is elated to work with the French Embassy and UNICEF Guyana to promote the values of the Olympics to the younger generation.

“The three values of olympism are excellence, respect and friendship and I think it’s a new platform to inspire a new generation of persons, whether they are competitive athletes or recreational students and even the public, about the Olympic movement and what it represents.

Nicolas Pronsaid that UNICEF is pleased to join in the collaboration as all efforts lead to increased advocacy for child rights in Guyana.

“I am particularly pleased that many of the planned events and Olympic values also align with UNICEF’s values of care, respect, integrity, trust, accountability and sustainability,” Pron said.

“As we advance our efforts to promote child rights in Guyana, Article 2, 19 and 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child speak to the rights of children and young people having equal opportunity despite gender or abilities, playing sports, and practicing sports in a healthy and safe environment. So, I am very happy to be part of this partnership to ensure that children and youths in Guyana learn their rights, even in the sports arena,” he said.

A media launch of the series of events is expected to be announced soon.

100 years after first hosting the modern Olympics, Paris will host the XXXIII Olympic Summer Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024, with the Paralympic games set for August 28 to September 8, 2024.