Graduation ceremony at Cheikh Anta Diop University

The students of the 8th class of the UCAD/FIFA/CIES sport management Programme in Senegal received their diplomas two weeks ago in Dakar. The event took place in the presence of many leading figures of the academic and sports worlds, as well as the students attending the 9th edition.

Under the patronage of Mr Lamine Diack, the eminent President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the graduation ceremony for the eighth edition of the UCAD/FIFA/CIES Programme was attended by Ibrahima Diop, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Education and Learning at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) representing the Chancellor, Djibril Seck, Director of the National Higher Institute for Popular Education and Sport (INSEPS), CIES General Secretary Vincent Schatzmann and Victor Kouami, Secretary-General of the Conference of the Youth and Sports Ministers of French-speaking Countries (CONFEJES).

The Director of INSEPS emphasised the merits and commitment of the students who attended the eighth programme. He thanked the patron of the eighth edition for his presence despite a very busy schedule. He described the career of Mr Diack and stated that he should be considered as an example for future sports managers.

CIES General Secretary Vincent Schatzmann, for his part, emphasised the importance of the curriculum for sports managers today and paid tribute to the quality and commitment of UCAD. He warmly thanked all the members of the local team for the work done over the eight years since the beginning of the partnership.

Speaking to the new graduates, the class patron Mr Lamine Diack gave an address alternating philosophy and many anecdotes illustrating his long and brilliant career as an athlete, politician and above all servant of sport. His very moving speech was warmly applauded by the audience.

The Dean of the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Education and Learning then paid tribute to the cooperation between CIES and UCAD as well as to the pioneering spirit of the FIFA/CIES Programme in Senegal.

Once the diplomas had been awarded, the students who completed the curriculum in 2013-14 welcomed the new class by offering them a welcome sash.

As many speakers noted, the Programme is very successful in Senegal, both at the academic level and at the organisational level. CIES wishes to thank the teaching staff Ibrahima Fall and Coumba Ndofène Diouf, Pape Touré, the CIES coordinator in Senegal and Astou Dramé, the administrative project coordinator at UCAD, for their commitment, availability and professionalism.

A convivial cocktail and the traditional group photograph ended a fine ceremony organised in the magnificent setting of the Terrou Bi Hotel.

Our best wishes for success to the graduates of this fabulous eighth edition: Alioune, Famara, Adama, Harry-Davy, Mame Soucka, Cheikh Mohamed Fadel, Fara, Mame Mor, Khadim, Aminata, Alliance Sylvie, Khadidiatou, Brahim, Anass, Alain Pierre Diethie, Coumba, Cheikh, Alhousseynou, Joséphine, Mamadou Lamine, Ambdil, Amadou Teliwel, Etienne Arnold, Abdoulatif and Ahmadou Bamba.