OUAGADOUGOU: The Minister of Sports in Burkina Faso, Roland Somda, received blessings from His Majesty the Mogho-Naba Baongo at the royal palace in Ouagadougou, ahead of the 35th International Tour of Faso. The starting signal for the tour is scheduled for this Friday.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the ministry’s communication services announced that Minister Somda, accompanied by a delegation, paid a courtesy visit to His Majesty on October 22, 2024. The delegation included Mr. Tegviel Evariste Metuole Dabiré, chief of staff, technical directors, Mr. Jean Yaméogo, president of the Burkinabe National Olympic and Sports Committee, and Mr. Amédée Ignace Béréwoudougou, president of the Burkinabe Cycling Federation.
The visit was an opportunity for Minister Somda to express gratitude to the Mogho-Naba for supporting sports in the country. Mogho-Naba Baongo conveyed his appreciation for the visit and provided his blessings and guidance to ensure the success of the upcoming event. He emphasized the im
portance of cooperation between the National Organizing Committee and the sports department to facilitate a successful celebration of the event, which is a source of pride for the Burkinabe people.
During the meeting, Minister Somda also reviewed the preparations for the Tour du Faso 2024 and sought the Mogho-Naba’s blessings for its smooth execution. The tour is set to take place from October 25 to November 3, with the first stage covering the distance between Koulbila and Tenkodogo.
Fifteen teams, including three from Burkina Faso, are expected to participate in the event. Notably, Paul Daumont, the winner of the previous edition’s yellow jersey, will not be participating in this year’s tour.