/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / Commonwealth Games • News • Rwanda CGA • Rwanda CGA/ 0 Comments

H.E Paul Kagame invites world leaders for CHOGM 2020.

President Paul Kagame on Tuesday officially invited world leaders to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which will be hosted in Rwanda in June next year.

In a video message, President Paul Kagame and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland announced that CHOGM 2020 will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre during the week starting June 22, around the theme ‘Delivering A Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming’.

President Kagame said it will be a great pleasure to welcome leaders of the Commonwealth when they gather in Kigali, highlighting that Rwanda will work hard to make everybody feel Rwanda is an extension of their home.

Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states and all Heads of State for these countries are expected to attend.

Kagame particularly indicated that the unique tenor of the CHOGM 2020 will be the focus on youth empowerment, especially through leveraging technology.

“The distinctive aspect of CHOGM 2020 will be connectivity including what young people can do with technology to create vibrant societies and develop our economies,” he noted in a video posted on Tuesday evening.

The Head of State made case for the youth and argued that it was important to look at them as an important and productive asset to transform economies across the world.

“There is no way we can see our young people as a liability. For a very clear reason, they are a huge asset and opportunity. Seeing them as liability would be a failure on our part,” he noted.

Creating the kind of environment that adds a lot of value to this asset of young people, he added, would be done through the provision of skills, access to technology and having them get involved more in value chains across the world.

According to the statement from the Secretariat, five sub-themes have been identified for discussion: Governance and Rule of Law, ICT & Innovation, Youth, Environment, and Trade.

The Commonwealth is a political organization most of whom are former colonies of Britain.

Rwanda, which joined the grouping in November 2009, is one of only two Commonwealth member countries with no colonial ties with the United Kingdom – the other being Mozambique.

The Commonwealth is home to 2.4 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries.

Building on progress since CHOGM 2018 in London, leaders are expected to discuss ways the contemporary Commonwealth can transform societies, in accordance with Commonwealth Charter values of democracy, multilateralism, sustainable development, and empowerment of women and youth.

Secretary-General Scotland stated: “I think the youth demographic we have now is a real opportunity.  It’s going to be a very exciting chance for us to enable our young people to develop and deploy the skills they need so they can fulfil their potential.

“By connecting, innovating and transforming, the Commonwealth opens up scope for mobilising the talent of people of all ages and backgrounds.”

As well as the meeting of heads of government, the week will include a meeting of foreign ministers and forums to engage young people, civil society, women and the business community.

Earlier this year, Foreign Affairs minister Dr Richard Sezibera had reiterated Rwanda’s readiness to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2020.

A package of Rwf8 billion had been set aside to host the summit.

//Content of The New Times.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News/ 0 Comments

Sitting volleyball: Rwanda secure ticket to Tokyo 2020.

RWANDA’s women sitting volleyball team has sealed their slot at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, in Japan, after beating Egypt to win the African championships on Tuesday.

Rwanda’s Female Sitting Volleyball Team celebrating after receiving the trophy/Photo: Ngendahimana Samuel-The New Times.

As was the case during the quadrennial event’s 2016 edition in Brazil, Rwanda will be the sole African team in women’s sitting volleyball at the Games.

In the match which took place at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, Rwanda fought back to win the thrilling game in four sets after losing the opening set 25-22.

Coached by Egypt-born tactician Mosaad Rashad Elaiuty, the Rwandan side quickly regrouped to go level 1-1 with a hard-fought 28-26 second set. The hosts went on to dominate the third set 25-15 before putting the game to bed with another effortless 25-18 fourth set.

Rwanda retained the African championships title for a third consecutive time – after 2015 and 2017 – with a perfect 5:5 win ratio, having beaten Kenya and Egypt twice each in the preliminaries on Sunday and Monday.

In a post-match interview, visibly excited skipper Lillian Mukobwankabo said, “We are very happy to be African champions again, and to seal our ticket to the Paralympics.”

“This is a glorious moment for everyone on the team.”

Meanwhile, the men’s team begin their quest for a ticket to Tokyo 2020 on Thursday when they face Kenya in the opener of the men’s tournament, which will run through September 22 at Amahoro Stadium.

Rwanda has been placed in the same pool as Kenya and Morocco, while the other group comprises Egypt, South Africa, and Algeria.

The hosts, Rwanda, and Egypt are widely seen as the top challengers for Africa’s sole ticket to next year’s Paralympic Games in men’s sitting volleyball.

Source: The New Times.

 

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News/ 0 Comments

Coaches, Sports leaders conclude a three-day training workshop on Sports Development

Twenty-six participants including coaches and sports leaders from different national sports federations have concluded a three-day training workshop on Sports Development at Olympic Hotel on Tuesday.

Group photo after the opening ceremony.

The workshop was organized by Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in partnership with University of Tsukuba, Japan from 18-20 August 2019.

The Guest of Honor, the Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda H.E Miyashita Takayuki addressing to participants.

The workshop conducted by professors from Tsukuba University including Prof. Rakwal Randeep, Dr. Hirokazu Matsuo, Dr. Kazuhiro Kajita and Dr. Koichi Watanabe with aim of link TIAS Alumni to sports development in Rwanda and sharing Japan sports expertise by strengthening the network between the two countries, develop the collaboration through join research projects, internships, events while establishing pathways toward welcoming the future students in the TIAS-TAIIKU School (Masters and thereafter in the Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, University of Tsukuba.

Prof. Rakwal Randeep.

The other topics included athlete management for administrator and coaches of federations and sports clubs/schools, college physical education, research methods in sports science, natural remedies, nutrition and sports, talent detection and development, psychological theories, sports science for youth athletes, mental skill, Technology to support coaching on tactics, models of Tactical approach, as well as Olympic studies and development of research project culture in Rwandan Sports Organizations and Universities.

On behalf of the participants, Jean Marie Nsengiyumva a coach from the National Paralympics Committee who attended the workshop thanked the Japanese experts for sharing the ideas.

He added, “It was an opportunity to learn a lot about sports in Japan while sharing as well as adding value to our experience, it is one way to strengthening long term relations between the two countries,”

The RNOSC Secretary General, Mr. Alexis Sharangabo thanked Japan experts, and urged fellow participants to implement what they learned in their respective disciplines.

Up to now, Rwandan TIAS (Tsukuba International Academy for Sports Studies) Alumni Association is made up of three Rwandan graduates namely Mr. Rurangayire Guy Didier, Mr. Celestin Nzeyimana and Mr. Shema-Maboko Didier.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News/ 0 Comments

Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee celebrates 71st Olympic Day in Nyanza.

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) on Sunday, June 23, 2019, joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 71st anniversary of Olympic Day with an event hosted by Rwanda culture hub city, Nyanza district.

As part of Olympic Day ceremonies, the children played different sports.

Around 600 participants including the local residents and students from different schools based in Nyanza participated in the Olympic Run and gathered at the stadium for different exercises including stretching besides demonstrating in Karate and athletics discipline skills.

Students and citizens of Nyanza district participating in Olympic run.

In preparation of this significant day, RNOSC organized an Olympic Week which kicked off from June 19 -22nd of June, 2019.

Speaking during the occasion, the guest of honor, the RNOSC Secretary-General Alexis SHARANGABO said the celebration is aimed at mass sensitizing and mobilizing to engage in sports regardless of age, gender or ability plus educating children about Excellence, Respect and Friendship which are the core values of Olympism.

“The sports performed here, were selected depending on the schools but also with assistance from qualified sports technicians of Nyanza” he explained.

Karate which is expected to be part of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Athletics are among the sports that have been performed.

He added that the children need to be motivated that is why we gave them equipment like balls and trophies that is incentive so that they can understand the facial skin problems and make choice of sport to join while at the same time showing them that there is a required level that ought to be reached with persistence for one to compete.

“Sports is good for health, it helps the body to resist against certain diseases, sports also helps one to have moral and to be energetic, for the children it is the right time to start sports at an early age,” the former Olympian added.

This year’s Olympic Day marked also the 125th anniversary of the International Olympic Committee’s establishment by Pierre de Coubertin.

Ruzidana a senior six student whose ambition is to become a basketball player, says sports helps one to relax your brain in general in addition to study well.

The Olympian Alphonsine Agahozo who took part in the celebration as a role model mentioned that the Olympics helped her to achieve opportunities she could not achieve in life.

She urged children or anybody else that sport is an activity for all to do at the time when they still can irrespective if they’re Olympians or not

Futbalnet results:

Final

Kavumu Adventist primary school 2-0 Gacu primary school

Semi-Final

Gacu primary school 2-1 Busasamana

Kavumu Adventist primary school 1- 0 Rwesero primary school

 Volleyball Men Teams:

Final

Christ-Roi 2-0 E S Nyanza (25- 14; 25 – 22)

 Semi-Final

E S Nyanza 2 – 0 St Peter Igihozo (25 – 16; 25 – 18)

Christ-Roi 2-1 GS mater Dei (22 -25; 25 – 18; 15- 12)

Basketball Women Teams:

Final

Christ-Roi 54-26 E S Nyanza

Semi-Final

E S Nyanza 44 – 36 St Peter Igihozo

Christ-Roi 47- 36 GS Mater Dei

Basketball Men Teams:

Final

GS Mater Dei 77 – 56St Peter Igihozo

Semi-Final

St Peter Igihozo 61 – 45 E S Nyanza

Gs Mater Dei 75 – 55 Espanya

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / Commonwealth Games • News • Rwanda CGA • Rwanda CGA/ 0 Comments

Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association celebrates Commonwealth Day 2019.

On Monday, 11th March 2019, The Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association celebrated the Commonwealth Day 2019 at G.S Camp Kigali.

Group Photo after Commonwealth Day 2019 Celebration.

Commonwealth Day is celebrated every year on March 2, but in Rwanda, they marked the day on March 11, 2019 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the modern Commonwealth, under the theme, “ A Connected Commonwealth”

The Commonwealth is a voluntary Association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under the age of 30.

Around 3000 students from G.S Camp Kigali who took part in a broad range of activities, including debates, essay, and Table Tennis competitions attended the occasion.

Guest of honour UK Commissioner to Rwanda Jo Lamos reminded the students that 60% in the Commonwealth youth are under the age of 30 years.

Addressing the gathering, Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association Vice President, Felicite Rwemarika, said, “This event is a partnership with the Commonwealth family and the aim is to work together. It is important for the youth because sports create relationship and mutual friendship with others.”

The Table Tennis Federation (RTTF) used the occasion to introduce the sport to the school and donated brand new playing kits which include a brand new table, ball, and playing bats.

RTTF President Jean Bosco Birungi said “This was the first time to partner with the Rwanda-CGA, it is an opportunity to expand the sport because we signed an agreement with G.S Camp Kigali School to promote the Table Tennis,” he said.

Jean Dieudonne Niyonsenga, the headmaster of the school expressed gratitude to the UK Commission, the Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association and Table Tennis Federation for bringing the celebration to the school.

The school is composed of a nursery, primary and secondary school with over 3,380 students on top of 108 staff.

Rwanda will host the 2019 CGF General Assembly in early September and the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in 2020, with over 7,000 delegates expected to attend the summit.

Read the Commonwealth Day Message by Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth: click here.

/ By Administrator / Commonwealth Games • News • Rwanda CGA/ 0 Comments

Rwanda to host 2019 CGF General Assembly marking ten-year anniversary of Commonwealth membership

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced today (5 October 2018) that Rwanda will host the 2019 CGF General Assembly and Strategic Forum. The General Assembly, which brings together sports leaders from all 71 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, will be held in the capital city Kigali from 3-6 September 2019*.  It marks the ten-year anniversary of Rwanda joining the list of Commonwealth nations in 2009, and takes place a year before Rwanda hosts the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2020.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said:

Rwanda’s membership of the Commonwealth is unique and we welcome this opportunity to celebrate and engage with the youngest member of our sporting family. They submitted an ambitious, strategic hosting proposal – and see the General Assembly as an important stepping stone for CHOGM 2020.

Rwanda is an inspiring country with passionate, proactive sports leadership – and we all look forward to ensuring a socially impactful legacy for Rwanda and the host CGA around the shared values and ambitions of Commonwealth Sport.”

Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha said:
“We are truly honoured to be selected to host the 2019 CGF General Assembly. We want to leverage this important event to build the profile of Rwanda and the wider Commonwealth and also contribute to our shared sporting, social and economic development. Our athletes and team will be the proudest of hosts – warmly welcoming the Commonwealth sporting fraternity to Kigali next September.

Rwanda is increasingly becoming a destination of choice for international meetings, and delegates will see how the Capital City of Kigali has come of age: the heart of the emerging Rwandan economy and a pride of every Rwandan.”

The General Assembly will take place in the flagship US$ 300 million Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) which opened in 2016. Key agenda items for the 2019 General Assembly will be the quadrennial CGF elections, continued evolution of the CGF’s Governance and Regulations and the approval of a refreshed Transformation 2022 strategy.

Rwanda hosted the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay from 22 to 25 March 2017, taking the opportunity to focus on the nation’s past, present and future.

Rwanda made their Commonwealth Games debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, taking part in Athletics, Boxing, Road Cycling and Swimming. They won their first ever Games medal at the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games – winning Bronze in Women’s Beach Volleyball.

Bronze medalists Valentine Munezero and Penelope Musabyimana of Rwanda pose after the medal presentation for the girl’s beach volleyball at the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games on July 22, 2017 in Nassau, Bahamas

During the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, all the Commonwealth Countries observed one minute’s silence to pay respect to the Tutsi killed in the 1994 Genocide.  President Valens Munyabagisha continued: “Hosting this meeting will also be an important occasion for the Commonwealth Family to see with their own eyes what they were commemorating at the time. It will demonstrate how we can all pull together to inspire each other – and especially our young people – to uphold the CGF values of Humanity, Equality and Destiny.”

Rwanda – known as the Land of a Thousand Hills, and home to one third of the world’s population of remaining mountain gorillas – is the newest member of the Commonwealth, and the second country (alongside Mozambique) in the Commonwealth without historic UK ties. They are a global leader in Gender Equality – becoming the first nation in the world to elect a majority of women MPs and continuing to hold the largest percentage of women in parliament in the world, which stands at 64% today.

It will be the second General Assembly to be held on the African continent this decade, with Kampala, Uganda hosting the meeting in 2012.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News • Rwanda CGA/ 0 Comments

Commonwealth: Internship Opportunity.

The Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association is offering an internship opportunity for 11 months to the candidates who possess a bachelor degree in Physical Education and Sports, Business Administration or Business Information Technology.

Please share this information with your Federations/Association/Schools eligible members interested with the program.

For further details about this opportunity, download pdf format here or visit our office from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm from Monday to Friday. The Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association is doxycycline for acne at Amahoro National Stadium, gate no 05.

The application deadline is fixed on 19th December 2018 at 5:00 pm.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News • VOLLEBALL/ 0 Comments

Olympic Channel and FIVB Announce Cooperation Agreement.

Madrid, Spain and Lausanne, Switzerland, December 11, 2018 – The Olympic Channel and the FIVB today announced an agreement to collaborate on content for the Olympic Channel global digital platform. 

The Olympic Channel is an over-the-top (OTT) global media destination where fans can experience the power of sport and the excitement of the Olympic Games all year round. Offering original programming, news, live sports events and highlights, the Olympic Channel provides additional exposure for sports and athletes 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in 11 languages, and is available worldwide at olympicchannel.com and its mobile apps.

With more than 2880 bios of both volleyball and beach volleyball athletes and more than 230 pieces of video content, fans can get comprehensive coverage of the sport on the Olympic Channel.

Volleyball and beach volleyball have had a presence on the Olympic Channel since its launch in August 2016 with dedicated sports pages where fans can relive the Olympic Games Rio 2016 for both disciplines and the recent beach volleyball events at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

The Olympic Channel also features volleyball content through news stories and original programming such as the story of Brazilian beach volleyball hero Jackie Silva in Legends Live On; five-time Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda from the United States as she coaches a struggling volleyball team in the reality-based The Z Team; and volleyball “patriot” Matt Garthoff in Groupies about the world’s most passionate sports fans.

“We look forward to working with FIVB to help expand the reach of their sport and athletes to a broader audience,” said Mark Parkman, general manager of the Olympic Channel. “As we look ahead to Tokyo 2020, both dedicated followers and new viewers are sure to be inspired by the stories of these athletes who bring such excitement and passion to the Summer Games programme.”

“We are excited to work with the Olympic Channel to keep promoting the sport of volleyball and beach volleyball ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” said FIVB Secretary General Fernando Lima. “We would like to ensure more content is available for our passionate fanbase around the world through various platforms. From the success of our own Volleyball TV, we have seen the huge appetite for high quality video content. Our collaboration with the Olympic Channel will ensure further coverage of our events and athletes and provide existing and new fans with greater access to our sport.”  

FIVB becomes the 76th federation partner who has signed similar agreements with the Olympic Channel including International Olympic Sports Federations (IFs), recognised federations and organisations, multi-sport organisers and non-recognised federations.

In addition to collaborating on live events, the Olympic Channel actively works with its federation partners to present event coverage, highlights, magazine shows, news coverage and original programming providing an additional platform to distribute content that are complementary to current broadcast and distribution arrangements.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News/ 0 Comments

7th Olympic Summit on 8 December 2018 – Information for the Media.

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) HAS CONVENED AN OLYMPIC SUMMIT ON 8 DECEMBER 2018 IN LAUSANNE.

Discussions will focus on several topics of interest and concern to the Olympic Movement, including: the Athletes’ Rights and Responsibilities Declaration, the Olympic Agenda 2020/New Norm, the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022, ASOIF and AIOWF good governance reports and the Olympism in Action Forum, held in October 2018 in Buenos Aires.

The Olympic Summit will also discuss the progress of the International Testing Agency (ITA), six months into its existence, and will discuss the approach of the Olympic Movement to egames/sports.

The Olympic Summit involves leading representatives of the Olympic Movement. It forms part of the ongoing dialogue and consultation on important issues and subjects of significance for the future of the Olympic Movement.

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 
IOC President

  • Thomas BACH

IOC Vice-Presidents

  • Juan Antonio SAMARANCH
  • Ugur ERDENER
  • Anita L. DEFRANTZ
  • Zaiqing YU

EB Members

  • Kirsty COVENTRY
  • Nenad LALOVIC
  • Ivo FERRIANI

 International Federations

  • President of the IAAF, Sebastian COE
  • President of the FIG, Morinari WATANABE
  • President of the ISU, Jan DIJKEMA
  • President of the IIHF, René FASEL
  • The Presidents of FIFA and FINA cannot attend due to important prior commitments in their respective sports.

National Olympic Committees

  • President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, GOU Zhongwen
  • President of the United States Olympic Committee, Lawrence F. PROBST III
  • President of the Russian Olympic Committee, Stanislav POZDNYAKOV

Recognised Organisations

  • Acting President of ANOC, Robin MITCHELL
  • President of ASOIF, Francesco RICCI BITTI
  • President of the AIOWF, Gian-Franco KASPER
  • President of the IPC, Andrew PARSONS
  • President of WADA, Craig REEDIE (by phone)
  • Raffaele CHIULLI, GAISF

Guests

  • President of ICAS, John COATES
  • Chair of the International Testing Agency, Valérie FOURNEYRON

Date: Saturday 8 December 2018

Time (local time):   Meetings/Events 
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.             Olympic Summit (closed to media) 

Media arrangements: 
Please note that there will be NO media facilities at the Lausanne Palace Hotel, where the meeting is taking place.
The IOC will issue a press release after the Olympic Summit providing information on the discussions.

Source: IOC

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News/ 0 Comments

IOC and Samsung extend partnership through to 2028.

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) AND SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO. LTD, (SAMSUNG) TODAY ANNOUNCED AN EXTENSION TO THEIR GLOBAL OLYMPIC PARTNERSHIP THROUGH TO 2028.

The announcement was made in Seoul, Republic of Korea, at a signing ceremony with IOC President Thomas Bach and Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman at Samsung Electronics; IOC Marketing Commission Chair Tsunekazu Takeda; Dong Jin Koh, President and CEO of the IT&Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics; and Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics. 

Samsung will continue as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the wireless communications equipment and computing equipment category, including the ability to promote the Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 5G features of that equipment. As part of the agreement, the IOC and Samsung will further develop their strategic digital collaboration to engage young generations around the world in order to promote the power of sport and the values of Olympism.

2018-12-04-Samsung-inside-01

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “I am delighted that we will be building on two decades of partnership with Samsung for another 10 years. Over this time, we have built a partnership combining Olympic excellence and Samsung’s industry-leading wireless communications technology. Together, we are able to connect with and inspire Olympic athletes and fans around the world, and we look forward to working with Samsung to build the digital future of the Olympic Games.”

Dong Jin Koh, President and CEO of the IT&Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “As a Worldwide Olympic Partner for the last 22 years, Samsung has been inspired by the spirit of hope, friendship and unity. Through our innovative wireless and computing equipment which are able to support AI, VR, AR and 5G technology, we hope to spread the excitement of the Games so that fans and athletes around the world can stay connected and share in the journey to achieve greatness at the highest level of sportsmanship.”

IOC Marketing Commission Chair Tsunekazu Takeda said: “Samsung is a global success story and a brand recognised around the world. Samsung understands and promotes the Olympic values through technology and marketing campaigns that help break down barriers and engage new audiences. From a commercial perspective, our extension with Samsung to 2028 builds on the long-term agreements reached recently with existing and new Partners, and demonstrates the long-term strength and appeal of our marketing programmes.”

Samsung will continue its support beyond the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and will support every edition of the Olympic Games through to Los Angeles 2028, as well as all the Youth Olympic Games through to 2028. Samsung will also continue to support the IOC, the National Olympic Committees and their teams. Samsung’s first Games as a Worldwide TOP Partner were the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. Samsung will also continue as a Worldwide Partner of the International Paralympic Committee, extending a relationship that began in 2006.

In collaboration with the IOC and the Organising Committees, Samsung plans to continue its Athlete Phone Programme. This programme provides Limited Olympic Edition Galaxy phones to all participating Olympic and Paralympic athletes to enhance the athletes’ Games-time experience, help them stay in touch with their family and friends, and capture and share their journeys. 

Source: IOC.