The two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as an initiative to “develop formal bilateral relations in the field of sport with the desire to deepen cooperation and strengthen bonds”. The Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire relayed a draft MoU to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) through diplomatic channels. The MoU was proposed with the aim to promote the exchange of programmes, visits, experience, techniques, information and knowledge between South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire in sport and physical education

The objectives of the MoU are to enable the parties to implement programmes of cooperation in the field of Sport and Physical Education on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit and to strengthen and intensify the partnership between the public and private structures of the Parties, responsible for the development of sport.

It is expected that the formalization of bilateral sports relations would be mutually beneficial to both countries. South Africa and Cõte d’Ivoire share similar sporting codes such as football, basketball, athletics, rugby, and taekwondo which can be beneficial to both parties with regard to exchange programmes

The parties undertake to cooperate in the following areas:

•The management of sport;
•The development of coaches in football, basketball, rugby, taekwondo and athletics;
•Improving the competitiveness of high-level athletes and trainers from both countries in the field of tennis in particular, football, basketball, rugby, athletes;
•The exchange of best practices on the development of sports infrastructure, their maintenance and rehabilitation;
•Sports medicine;
•Programmes for the practice of sport by persons with disabilities;
•The promotion of sport practiced by women
•The promotion of school and university sport;
•The development of grassroots sport;
•The organization of major international competitions;
•The promotion of educational leisure activities; and
•The organization of player welfare and anti-doping conferences.

South Africa and Côte d’Ivoire enjoy a history of friendly diplomatic relations, and the level of cooperation between the two countries has increased significantly over the years. The two countries establishedbilateral relations in May 1992 and have their diplomatic missions in Abijan, Cote d’Ivoire and Pretoria, South Africa. Since 1994, a number of high-level visits have taken place between the two countries. In December 2021, the South African President Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa undertook a state visit to
Côte d’Ivoire to further strengthen political, economic and social ties between the two sovereign states.

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