GOMA (DR Congo) - The first modern stadium in Goma, a major city in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), built by the Chinese company Sinohydro 2, was declared ready for service Wednesday.

The new stadium, which had been under construction since 2017 in the city of Goma, capital of DRC's province of North Kivu, is now operational after the final stage of laying the artificial turf is complete.

Financed by the Sino-Congolese Program of the Congolese Agency for Great Works (ACGT), this 15,000-seat stadium has enabled the city of Goma to have its first modern stadium meeting international standards.

Complementing this project built by the Chinese company, Romy Ekuka Lipopo, vice-governor of the North Kivu province, described this stadium as a "jewel," saying it enables North Kivu to play host to more sports events in the future.