On June 20, Venezuela and Benin reached 30 years of consular relations, so the Diplomatic Mission organized the soccer championship 30 Years of Friendship Cup to which eight teams from different sectors of the city of Cotonou joined.
The opening of the championship took place last February and featured the participation of the teams: Elites FC, Union FC, Beaudos FC, ADK FC, Baobabs FC, Machines de guerre FC, Israel FC and Sport Entretien; which held successive matches until Sunday June 20 when four of them reached the semifinal round.
After the different matches, the Beaudos FC team reached the first place, followed by Sport Enteretiene FC and the third place was for the Unión FC team.
The award ceremony was led by the Ambassador of the Bolivarian Republic in the Republic of Benin, Belén Teresa Orsini Pic; the Director of Sports and Training on behalf of the Minister of Sports, Oswald Homeky; the Director of State Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Cooperation, on behalf of the Beninese government.
The Ambassadors of Morocco, Turkey, Cuba and South Africa also attended the event, as well as a diplomatic representative of the Russian Embassy, the First Vice-president of the National Assembly, Honorable Deputy Robert Gbian in the company of the Honorable Deputy D. Leon Aden Houessou, on behalf of the Legislative Power.
Also present were the Director of the School of African Heritage, the Director of the Esperanza University, professors of the Abomey Calavi University, a delegation of Beninese doctors graduated in Venezuela and different friendship groups between Venezuela and Benin.
In her speech, the Venezuelan diplomat highlighted that relations between the two regions were strengthened since 2005 under the leadership of President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, who decided to open an Embassy in this important West African country; to work on projects in different areas, highlighting the construction of educational centers, housing, productive financing for the sustainable development of rice cultivation through FAO, university scholarships, among others.
At present, the Mission maintains an intense agenda of exchange in training, culture and sports, highlighting the Venezuelan Film Week, spanish and Venezuelan culture courses, photography workshops, percussion workshops, among other activities.
The Ambassador thanked the sportsmanship of the young people, the welcome of the communities and the support of The Friends of Venezuela for making this championship possible, where the presence of youth is a manifestation of the excellent relations between the two countries.