Lebanese Speaker backs 2009 Francophone Games

BEIRUT, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has stressed his backing to the sixth Francophone Games that will be held in Lebanon Sept. 2009 and expressed readiness to help make the event successful, local Naharnet news website reported on Friday.

Berri's announcement came after meeting in Ain el Tineh Thursday the director general of the youth and sports ministry, Zeid Khiami, and a delegation from the national committee organizing next year's event.

After meeting Berri, Khiami was quoted as saying that The Francophone Games are a major event. Lebanon hosts this event in which around 40 countries and 3,000 participants will take part.

The games are a combination of artistic and sporting events for French speaking nations, held every four years since 1989.