L??ouvrage a été officiellement inauguré vendredi dernier par le chef de l??Etat. Comme une rivière en crue, la foule coule doucement vers le carrefour Warda. En ce vendredi, le palais polyvalent des Sports ressemble à un cours d??eau, ayant de nombreux affluents. Ceux du complexe sportif de Warda, issus des quatre coins du pays et de la très lointaine République

populaire de Chine, viennent se « jeter » au pied de l??imposant édifice. Le public est compact. La mise en place des invités terminée, de lourds nuages s??amoncellent soudain au-dessus de Warda. Dame pluie menace de s??inviter aux festivités. Les techniciens mettent en marche les jets d??eau qui montent vers le ciel, à plus de 50 m d??altitude ! 11h, avec la ponctualité d??une horloge suisse, le cortège présidentiel franchit le portail d??entrée. Le chef de l??Etat qui préside la cérémonie d??inauguration, en présence de l??ambassadeur de la République populaire de Chine, S.E Huang Changqing, s??installe à la tribune présidentielle après le cérémonial d??accueil. Les officiels chinois sortent leurs téléphones. Ils tiennent absolument à immortaliser l??arrivée du chef de l??Etat. Les choses sérieuses peuvent commencer. Les articulations du programme sont déroulées. Au nom du chef de l??Etat, le Premier ministre, chef du gouvernement, Inoni Ephraim, procède aux décorations des ingénieurs, techniciens, ouvriers chinois et camerounais ayant travaillé sur le projet. Des responsables des ministères des Sports et de l??Education physique, du Développement urbain et de l??Habitant, impliqués dans la réalisation de l??ouvrage sont également honorés. Le ciel se fait plus menaçant. Gilbert Tsimi Evouna, délégué du gouvernement auprès de la Communauté urbaine de Yaoundé, prononce le mot d??accueil. François Elemva, contrôleur des travaux, présente l??ouvrage, le premier en Afrique subsaharienne, reconnaîtra l??architecte. Le complexe a une durée de vie bicentenaire. En d??autres termes, il peut vivre pendant deux cents ans. Le PNDIS se poursuivra L??ambassadeur de la République populaire de Chine prend la parole à son tour. Entre temps, les nuages se sont dispersés brusquement. La pluie ne viendra pas « gâter » la fête. L??ambassadeur de la République populaire de Chine, S.E Huang Changqing, salue l??engagement du chef de l??Etat dans la réalisation de l??ouvrage, de sa conception à sa réalisation. « 2009 est une année de grande récolte pour la coopération sino-camerounaise », dira le diplomate. L??assistance retient son souffle. Le chef de l??Etat se lève et prononce son discours. Temps fort de la cérémonie. Le président de la République salue le caractère « exemplaire » de la coopération sino-camerounaise, dresse un portrait de l??ouvrage, un « magnifique palais », se félicite le premier sportif camerounais. Le président de la République fait des annonces fortes. Les abords du palais des Sports seront aménagés. Le public pousse un « ouf de soulagement. Les négociations du Programme national de développement des infrastructures sportives (PNDIS) seront poursuivies. Deuxième « ouf » de soulagement ponctué par des applaudissements. Le gouvernement veillera sur la maintenance. Troisième « ouf » de soulagement. Le chef de l??Etat découvre ensuite la plaque commémorative, avant la visite guidée qu??il effectue en compagnie notamment de l??ambassadeur de la République populaire de Chine et du ministre des Sports et de l??Education physique, Augustin Edjoa. L??acte I de la cérémonie est bouclé. En une heure de temps. Sans une minute de trop. Sans une seconde de moins. Comme prévu dans le programme. Preuve que les choses commencent bien avec le palais polyvalent des Sports.
Brice MBEZE, Cameroun Tribune
Exemplary Cooperation
Cameroonians were happy witnesses to another landmark event in the country last Friday June 19, 2009. It was the official inauguration of a Sports Complex at the heart of the capital city, Yaounde. The structure adds to several others acquired by Cameroon thanks to the fruitful and exemplary cooperation ties that the country shares with the People??s Republic of China for decades now. Saying the project came as no surprise could sound too obvious a remark to many who have been following up the pace of progress in relations between Cameroon and China. But beyond the strong symbol of true friendship that the fascinating structure demonstrates, President Paul Biya pointed out during his inaugural speech that the cooperation is simply exemplary. ??It is exemplary because it is generous. It is exemplary because it is efficient. It is exemplary because it remains faithful to its commitments,?? the president said. Looking at the sectors that the Chinese have taken interested in within the context of bilateral cooperation with Cameroon, no one can question the sincerity of such ties. Water, electricity, health care, education and now sports and culture have been the choicest attractions for the People??s Republic of China in Cameroon. One only has to look at the Lagdo Dam in the North Region, the Yaounde Conference Centre, the Yaounde and Mbalmayo heath structures to appreciate how China and Cameroon have conducted their bilateral affairs. The Yaounde Gynaecological, Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital has remained a reference point in matters of health care in Cameroon same as the Younde Conference Centre that has for decades served as the focal point for national and international events of significant magnitude. As if to settle the problem of distance from the city centre posed by the Conference Centre for most cultural manifestations, the Warda Sports Complex that has again been realised thanks to Sino-Cameroon cooperation, is not only handy, but close to town as many have loved it to be. The 5,200 capacity-building that mobilised some 1200 technicians from Cameroon and China for the past 32 months can host high-profile sports and cultural events. Moreover, since the participation of President Paul Biya at the China African Summit in Beijing in 2006 and the subsequent visit to Cameroon in 2007 of the Chinese Leader, Hu Jintao, several other concrete results of such high-level cooperation have been visible in Cameroon. According to the Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon, Huang Changqing, an anti-malaria centre has not only been inaugurated of late, but the first Chinese medical experts have already been to Cameroon for the effective take off of the project. In addition, construction work on primary schools in Nanga Eboko and Guider by the Chinese has ended and most importantly, the potable water project for the economic capital still by the Chinese is expected to end by August this year. These and the agricultural support projects are just a few of concrete Chinese realisations in Cameroon. So realistic and attractive are the Chinese projects in Cameroon to the extent that many Cameroonians today wonder aloud where the Chinese have been all along. However, such questions simply demonstrate the lack of publicity that has existed around their activities in the country or simply the forgetful nature of those who express such concerns. In effect, the Lagdo Dam, the Yaounde Conference Centre and the Gynaecological, Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital have all stood the test of time in the country. The challenge that all and sundry should have in Cameroon toward such achievement as the Sports Complex is that, like other Chinese realisations in the country, it should continuously be preserved to reflect the quality of relations that both countries enjoy. Luckily the complex is coming at a time that Yaounde, in particular and Cameroon in general is witnessing a reawakening in infrastructural development and modernisation of major cities. One has every reason therefore to imagine that the commitment taken by the Yaounde Government Delegate, Gilbert Tsimi Evouna during the inaugural ceremony on Friday to keep the environment of the complex up to date was more than timely. Cameroonian sports men and women and those involved in promoting the cultural identity of the country have the exemplary overture that the Sino Cameroon cooperation fruits have offered them, and so they must learn to fly ever higher.
Richard KWANG KOMETA, Cameroun Tribune

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