On the occasion of the “Félix Houphouët-Boigny Year” commemorating the 25th anniversary of the death of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Foundation for the Search for Peace (FHB Foundation) officially launched the activities by a march and a petanque competition on May 12, 2018 in Yamoussoukro.
This march called “Path of peace Felix Houphouet-Boigny” took place in the morning and this for two hours. It was a six (6) kilometer course that started and ended at the Yamoussoukro sub-prefecture. Nearly 250 people honored the memory of the “Founder of modern Côte d’Ivoire” by participating in this walk which ended with a Fitness session. The presence of the authorities of the political capital, including the Prefect of the Region of Aries, the Sub-Prefect, the Regional Director of National Education (DREN), the heads of service, members of the Civil Society, students from the Zambakro Armed Forces School (EFA), Republican Guard soldiers, police and gendarmerie agents. During his address, the Prefect of the Region of Aries, Mr. Brou KOUAMÉ said that everything concerning the “Father of Ivorian Nation” should not leave indifferent any Ivorian. For him, sport is not just a physical activity but remains a factor of peace and gathering. As for Mr. Mathias KOUAKOU, president of the organizing committee of these sports activities, he thanked all the participants in this march, on behalf of the Secretary General of the FHB Foundation, Pr Jean-Noël LOUCOU.
The pétanque competition called “Peace Tournament Felix Houphouët-Boigny” was held with the technical support of the Yamoussoukro Foundation Pétanque Club in front of the headquarters of the Foundation FHB. Opened at 9:30 am by the throwing of the cap made by the Prefect of the Region of Aries, Mr Brou Kouame, she saw the participation of 140 lovers of petanque accompanied by many supporters, from different cities of the Côte d Ivory as Daloa, Soubré, Issia, Dimbokro, San Pedro and Abidjan.
After hard battles, the doublet from Abidjan managed to win the trophy of the winner against the one from San Pedro. The first 16 winners and the best shooter did not return empty handed. They also received an award from the FHB Foundation.
The competition ended in the early evening with the award ceremony and the final word delivered by the Central Sub-Prefect of Yamoussoukro.