PASS'SPORT Programme Concludes Abidjan Seminar, Strengthening Sport for Development Initiatives

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire — From April 20 to 24, 2026, the PASS’SPORT seminar brought together award recipients from several African countries in Abidjan for an immersive week focused on sport as a driver of social, territorial, and economic transformation. 

Situated at the intersection of sport, development, and social innovation, the seminar offered participants an intensive learning environment designed to foster knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the structuring of high-impact territorial projects. 

From the opening session, contributions from Nelson Camara, Charles Houdart, and Julien Sorez — alongside Mame Omar Diop and Ousmane Gbané — set a strong strategic foundation, highlighting the critical role of sport in social cohesion and sustainable territorial development. 

Throughout the week, participants engaged with practical tools such as territorial diagnostics, strategic analysis, and foresight exercises, enabling them to translate ideas into operational visions and well-structured projects tailored to local contexts. 

A strong emphasis was placed on leadership and communication skills. Media training sessions, public speaking exercises, and a press conference simulation led by Brice Albin Yamedzeu helped participants strengthen their posture as project leaders and communicate their initiatives with clarity and confidence. 

Field visits to the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium and the Agora Koumassi sports complex anchored discussions in the operational reality of sports infrastructure management and usage, enriching reflections through direct, real-world observation. 

The collective dynamic of the seminar was further reinforced by a networking reception hosted at the headquarters of FIBA Africa, bringing together participants, partners, and key actors from the Ivorian sports ecosystem to foster collaboration and long-term partnerships. 

Sessions addressed core themes such as project structuring, inclusion, gender equality, economic models, and stakeholder mobilization. In the closing sequence, project pitches, the presentation of Sport en Commun, and an inspiring address by Bony Wilfried highlighted the commitment, energy, and potential of this emerging community. 

PASS’SPORT thus affirms itself as more than a program: it is a collective movement serving more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable territories, where sport stands as a powerful lever for transformation.