Halifax will host thousands of francophone athletes from across Atlantic Canada for the 2008 Jeux de l'Acadie.

Though the annual sporting event began 27 years ago, it has never been held in the Nova Scotia capital.

Coun. Andrew Younger said the Halifax Regional Municipality was named host of the 2008 event Saturday in Tracadie, N.B.

Given the size of the francophone community in his East Dartmouth-The Lakes district, Younger said, it was time the Halifax Regional Municipality hosted the event.

"While the venues will be spread out throughout HRM, the centre of operations will be in East Dartmouth, and I think that's exciting too." 

Younger said a new recreation centre recently announced for his district will be used for the Games, as will Beazley Field, which already has improvements planned.

For a few hundred thousand dollars, the municipality will get a great return on its investment, Younger said.

"Fredericton hosted this a few years ago and they found the spinoffs were in the millions of dollars." 

Organizers are expected to announce more details of the 2008 Jeux de l'Acadie on Tuesday.