Chinese Government sends athletics experts to train Malagasy coaches as part of the Sports Coaching Technical Cooperation Project (Linked to Record ID#60915, #72958)

On March 15, 2017, Chinese athletics experts arrived in Madagascar to conduct a sport coaching training program in Madagascar.

The team sent consisted of 8 coaches who were to train Malagasy coaches in Madagascar for 30 days at and around the Mahamasina Sports Palace in Antananarivo.

The team trained coaches in 5 sports disciplines including table tennis, swimming, weightlifting, athletics, and badminton. The coaches were sent by China Sport International, a Chinese state owned company. The training lasted from March 19, 2018, to April 19, 2018.

According to the Madagascar Minister of Youth and Sports, the training was the result of an Exchange of Letters agreement between China and Madagascar, signed during President Rajaonarimampianina's visit to China in 2017 for the Sports Coaching Technical Cooperation Project. The Chinese Government also provided a grant for the provision of sporting equipment (see linked Record ID#72958).

The training was also a part of a push by Madagascar's government towards the fielding of competitive teams at the 2019 Indian Ocean Island Games.

After completing the 30 day training in Madagascar, 30 coaches and 69 athletes went to China to undergo another 120 day training (see linked Record ID#60915). The Sports Coaching Technical Cooperation Project initiative officially ended on or around February 27, 2019.