Grand Opening of 30,000-Seat Olympic Stadium in Mandjafa, Chad, Marks New Era in Sino-Chadian Relations

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A significant milestone in Chad’s sports and infrastructure development was celebrated with the official opening of the Stade Olympique Marechal Idriss Déby Itno, a 30,000-seat stadium located in Mandjafa, on the eastern outskirts of the capital, N’Djamena. The monumental project, which took five years to complete, was a gift from the Chinese government, symbolizing deepening diplomatic and economic ties between Chad and China.

The new stadium is named in honor of the late President Idriss Déby Itno, a dominant political figure in Chad’s recent history. His son and current President, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, officially inaugurated the stadium during a celebratory event held on a Friday, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s sporting infrastructure.

Designed as a multi-purpose facility, the stadium is equipped to host various sporting events, including football, basketball, handball, volleyball, tennis, and athletics such as shot put. The government and sporting bodies in Chad hope the new venue will one day serve as a host for an edition of the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations, showcasing the nation’s growing capacity for large-scale international events.

The project was carried out by China’s Shaanxi Construction Engineering Group, which supervised and executed the construction over five years. A total of 1,963 Chadian workers contributed to the effort, underlining the local labor force’s involvement and benefit from the venture.

The completion and handover of the stadium earlier this month were heralded as a testament to the “win-win cooperation” between Chad and China. Both governments have praised the project as an example of international partnership rooted in mutual respect and shared interests.

In a symbolic move acknowledging China’s contribution, President Mahamat Déby announced plans to name one of the main streets in the capital, N’Djamena, after Chinese President Xi Jinping. This gesture highlights the strategic importance of Chad-China relations and reflects a growing alliance in areas extending beyond infrastructure into political and economic domains.

With a capacity of 30,000, the new stadium becomes the largest in the country, surpassing the 20,000-seat Stade National in N’Djamena. This positions Chad to better accommodate major sporting events and elevate its presence in regional competitions.

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Speaking at the inauguration, President Déby described the stadium as “an exceptional achievement,” symbolising fruitful collaboration with China. “This achievement is the tangible result of active cooperation between the Republic of Chad and the People’s Republic of China,” he said, emphasising a relationship grounded in “mutual interest, mutual respect, and a shared vision.”

This landmark development not only enhances Chad’s sports infrastructure but also signals a robust and evolving partnership between the African nation and China, with implications for future collaborations across multiple sectors.