Rwanda national karate athlete Halifa Niyitanga has made history by winning the country first bronze medal at the on-going African Youth Games in Algiers, Algeria from 18-28 July.
Niyitanga Halifa smiling after wearing his bronze medal.
Niyitanga was representing Rwanda in the boys Kumite 61kg category, defeated Jeffrey Ken from Benin to fetch the bronze at the 3rd continental youth games.
In the opening qualifying category, he faced off Lucas Marques of Cape Verde but later lost to Burundi Elvis Terimbere in elite second category fight.
He later made a comeback in the deciding fight to beat Gabonese David Obissa to book a ticket for the second runner up medal decider fight, ultimately he won the fight.
Halifa facing the Gabonese David Obissa for Bronze medal.
Elsewhere, it was tough for teammate Victor Shyaka Kaberuka who lost twice to Morocco’s, Riad Bourahmoun and finally to Nigeria’s Olorunmbe Oluwaseun.
Rwanda sent two boys and one girl, Jovia Umunezero who will compete today in kumite –female -59kgs category.
So far, Rwanda has grabbed two medals in this on-going event; silver medal for women’s national beach volleyball team which has also qualified for Youth Olympic Gmaes 2018 and bronze medal in karate, kumite category -61 kgs.
Rwanda women’s national beach volleyball team has qualified for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games slated in Buenos Aires, Argentina after finishing second in the 2018 African Youth Games Algiers, Algeria.
Mozambique (1st place), Rwanda (2nd place) and Egypt (3rd place) on the podium.
The duo of Valentine Munezero and Penelope Musabyimana put up a convincing performance from the start and in the semifinal they beat Egypt by 2-0 sets (21-15, 21-17).
Rwanda lost to Mozambique at the final match by 2-1 sets (22-20, 11-21, 7-15).
Mozambique finished as the best nation both in the boys and girls categories of this year’s U-18 Beach Volleyball African Games.
The three top winners in both categories, they qualify for the 2018 Youth Olympic Games officially known as the III Summer Youth Olympic Games that will be hosted in Buenos Aires, Argentina between 6 and 18 in October this year.
However in the boy’s category, Rwanda failed to finish in the top after losing three games and winning only one.
Final African youth Olympics beach volleyball rankings
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB) OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) WILL PROPOSE NINE NEW MEMBERS FOR ELECTION AT THE IOC SESSION AHEAD OF THE YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES IN BUENOS AIRES IN OCTOBER.
RNOSC 1st Vice President, Madam Rwemalika receiving IOC Award for Women and Sport on the African continent in 2016. (Photo: IOC Media).
The 1st Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Madam Felicite RWEMARIKA is one of nine new IOC members that have been proposed for election at IOC session ahead of the Youth Olympic Games which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, In October 2018.
Madam Rwemalika has been selected as an individual member who is renowned for her gender advocacy, especially in Rwanda Sports Movement.
In 2016, Rwemalika has received an IOC Award for Women and Sport on the African continent in honor of devoting her life to helping Rwandan women and girls in different areas, particularly sports.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “In line with the recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC is constantly aiming at a more diverse and inclusive membership. The Olympic Movement would benefit significantly from the expertise of these nine candidates that we are proposing to the next IOC Session. Their extensive knowledge of the sports movement will add extra strength and experience to the universal college of IOC members.”
DURING ITS MEETING HELD IN LAUSANNE TODAY, THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) EXECUTIVE BOARD (EB) WAS PROVIDED WITH A THOROUGH PROGRESS REPORT ABOUT RECENT GOVERNANCE REFORMS WITHIN THE ORGANISATION AND DECIDED TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS IN ORDER TO REMAIN FIT FOR PURPOSE.
A year ago, the world-renowned International Institute for Management Development (IMD) presented its research into good governance at the IOC and issued a set of recommendations, aimed at helping the IOC to build its resilience and leadership position, fulfill its mission to society in its fullest and serve as a best-in-class example in a global arena in need of positive governance examples.
In particular, the IMD made 22 recommendations to improve structures and processes for governance in the more immediate term, as well as 11 recommendations for longer-term transformation of governance practices, to support the IOC on its path to continued governance improvement. In addition, the IMD identified seven dilemmas that the IOC will need to face in the next 10 years to ensure that its governance practices keep pace with its evolving role and increasing societal expectations.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Having followed up on a large number of these recommendations during the last year, key achievements by the IOC include:
awareness training on ethical matters delivered to all IOC Members and employees;
an awareness training programme on ethical matters, including conflicts of interest for all IOC commissions;
the review of all the commissions, with a significant number of external IOC experts to provide appropriate support to IOC Members.
Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, IOC Member and Chair of the IOC’s Audit Committee, said: “One year after publication of the IMD review, the IOC has implemented the majority of the recommendations, and other important actions are work in progress. Olympic Agenda 2020 and support from the IOC’s Ethics Commission have been a catalyst for several reforms. As governance remains an evolving process, the IOC Executive Board today decided on more measures to further strengthen its own effectiveness.”
EB MEMBERS TO UNDERGO SELF-ASSESSMENT AND REGULAR TRAINING
Following the model of other best-in-class leading organisations, the EB decided to conduct self-assessments and regular training for each of its members, aimed at optimising their skills and expertise to effectively face current and future societal, political and technological governance challenges.
ONGOING INITIATIVES
Other significant projects have also started to address the remaining recommendations within the next two years. They include:
a review, by the Ethics Commission, of the rules on conflicts of interest for the Olympic Movement to be presented to the IOC EB and then ultimately to the IOC Session next year;
the contract management and procurment improvement projects, as part of the Operational Excellence Programme, which will further improve all matters related to suppliers’ due diligence, sustainable procurement and prevention of conflicts of interest;
the implementation of recommendation 27 of Olympic Agenda 2020 related to the basic principles of good governance across the Olympic Movement;
the implementation of the People Management 2020 programme, which will improve gender equity and succession planning;
the new digital strategy to further improve transparency of the IOC towards its external stakeholders; and
cooperation with a specialised company to help continue the work around human rights alignment and compliance with UN guiding principles on human rights.
A further follow-up report on the IMD recommendations by the IOC will be presented to the Executive Board during its meeting in December.
The IOC remains committed to being a strong values-based organisation and a leader in the field of sport, with the aim of being a model of governance quality.
The national U18 beach volleyball teams, boys and girls, departed for Algeria on Sunday afternoon, at 4pm aboard Qatar Airways, ahead of the 2018 African Youth Games.
Beach Volleyball Team posing with Coach Christophe before departing.
The 3rd African Youth Games competition is due July18-28 in the Algerian capital – Algiers.
Rwanda’s beach volleyball duo in the male category is composed of Cedrick Kageruka while their female counterparts are; Valentine Munezero and Penelope Musabyimana. The two teams are under the watchful eye of Christophe Mudahinyuka.
According to coach Mudahinyuka, the target is Algeria is ‘at least’ to reach in the finals and qualify for this year’s Youth Olympic Games slated October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“Right now we don’t know who we will meet first, since the draws will be held on Wednesday (July 18). What we know is we should be ready and confident to face anyone. Our mission is to win medals and qualify for Youth Olympics,” Mudahinyuka told Times Sport yesterday in an exclusive interview shortly before the team’s take-off at Kigali International Airport.
In girls’ category, the Rwandan ladies are not dark horses on international stage. Last year, Musabyimana and Munezero made history by finishing in third place at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau, Bahamas.
A total of 13 athletes across three different disciplines will carry the country’s quest for African Youth Games medals.
Besides beach volleyball, Rwanda will also be represented in karate and athletics – both delegations will be heading to Algeria on July 20.
At the 2014 edition, Rwanda won gold in girls’ category through Selphine Mukantambara and Lea Uwimbabazi after beating Namibia in the final while the country finished in fifth position to secure the final ticket to the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China.
Minister of Sports and Culture, Julienne Uwacu has flagged off the Rwandan delegation to this year’s African Youth Games, which will be held in in Algiers, Algeria from July 18-28.
Hon. Minister, Madam Uwacu Julienne handing over the flag to the Captain of Youth Team.
Friday afternoon at the ministry’s headquarters, the ceremony attracted officials of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), technical staff of the teams, officials of the relevant federations, athletes as well as families of the youngsters.
At the 10-day long African youth competitions, Rwanda will field representatives in three disciplines; athletics, beach volleyball and karate.
Minister Uwacu wished the athletes good luck and encouraged them to work collectively as a team to make Rwanda proud in Algiers.
“You are talented and have worked hard to make it to the final team, now go out there with confidence and determination to make your country proud” the minister urged the young athletes before cautioning them that “It’s not professional to find anyone with thyroid cancer of escaping on national duty while competing in such competitions.”
She also told the youthful players that they should not feel intimidated or less able to win medals despite most of them making their debut on continental scene.
Penelope Musabyimana of the beach volleyball team said they have had good preparations and are ready to give it their best shot to win medals as they battle for tickets to this year’s Youth Olympic Games scheduled for October 6-18 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A total of 13 athletes across three different sporting disciplines will carry the country’s quest for a historic first African Youth Games medal.
13 athletes who will compete posing with their coaches.
The beach volleyball teams will depart for Algiers on Sunday (tomorrow) while their karate and athletics counterparts will be travelling on July 20.
Full Teams
Beach Volleyball: Boys: Cedrick Kageruka, and Bernard Masabo,
Girls: Valentine Munezero and Penelope Musabyimana,
Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) on Friday officially launched a book dubbed ‘Imikino n’Intwaro Gakondo’ about traditional and cultural sports.
Group photo after the launch.
The book, written by elderly experts, describes in detail the promotion and acquaintance of traditional and cultural values through sports.
Speaking during the launch, RNOSC president Amb. Valens Munyabagisha, who thanked the elderly authors, said that the book is an ideal tool of great importance since “it reminds us about the integral traditional values of our society” through games.
“It (the book) is important because it combines the elements of the Olympic Values – Friendship, Respect and Excellence – which we value so dearly in the Rwandan society,” he noted.
He further added that the values underpin the games as a set of traditional principles, but they can be applied to our daily lives, as well as to sports.
The RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha explaining the importance of the book “Imikino n’Intwaro Gakondo”.
Over 32 traditional and cultural games were mentioned during the book launch at RNOSC headquarters at Amahoro Stadium, among them are; traditional wrestling, high jumping, archery, arm wrestling, swimming, stick fighting, ancient form of boxing, board games and boat racing.
Emmanuel Bugingo, Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sports and Culture, said that the inclusion of these games among the youth as sporting activities would help them to better understand the beliefs and core values of the Rwandan society.
Group photo after opening ceremony with Minister of Sports and Culture, Hon. Uwacu Julienne.
The regional Forum on Sports and Marketing which brought together ANOCA Zone V leaders, NOCs delegates, the private sector and government representatives ended on Friday with renewed commitment to do more to promote sports.
The two-day meeting held on June 28-29, 2018 at Hotel des Mille Collines, Kigali, was organised by ANOCA / ZONE V in collaboration with Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC).
The aim of the forum was to discuss how regional Olympic committees can work together to revitalise the sports industry through business partnerships with the private sector with a focus on ending dependency on government budgets in the long run.
The forum which was officially opened by the Minister of Sports and Culture, Hon. Julienne Uwacu discussed existing challenges and opportunities as well as what needs to be done to tap into the potential of the sports industry.
At the end of the meeting, delegates agreed to advance sports and sports business in Africa, through partnerships with the private sector – with local organising committees and representatives of private sector identifying the challenges each side faces and solutions.
Following a series of deliberations, presentations and diseases and antibiotics of experiences, it was resolved that ANOCA ZONE V needs to hold regular marketing seminars at least once in every two years to allow NOCs to brainstorm and evaluate progress.
It was also agreed that ANOCA ZONE V’s main property is the youth games and they should be held at least once in every two years.
It was further agreed that ANOCA ZONE V sets up a marketing commission that would help to identify opportunities and come up with ideas that can be fully exploited.
To that end, it was agreed that National Olympic Committees (NOCs) need to send names and CVs to ANOCA ZONE V for viable candidates’ review, set to be part of the ANOCA Marketing Commission.
Delegates agreed that each National Olympic Committee (All 7 NOCs) needs to develop their own marketing strategy and send it to ZONE V for deliberation with ANOCA.
“This is to synergize and synchronize marketing strategies. Respective National Olympic Committees (NOCs) marketing commissions need maximum three months to be done with the marketing strategy,” delegates agreed among the recommendations.
It was also agreed that ANOCA should approach IOC on the use of IOC marketing properties going forward.
During the board meeting which was held on Day 1 on the sidelines of the regional forum at attended by Minister Uwacu, it was resolved that Rwanda hosts next year’s ANOCA ZONE V Youth Games.
In her opening remarks, Hon. Uwacu called on NOCs and private sector on the continent to work together to advance sports and make it a lucrative industry it is supposed to be.
“Africa has a tremendous potential. It is up to us to ignite it through professionalism, leadership and passion,”
“To achieve consistent performance, we need to foster excellence, effectiveness, integrity, equity and equality, inclusion, accountability, mutual respect, enthusiasm and commitment,” Hon. Uwacu said.
She said that the Government of Rwanda is committed to supporting all programs and initiatives aimed at transforming the image of sport in ANOCA Zone V and in Africa in general.
“We are also committed to implementing the new architecture of sport in Africa initiated by the African Union Commission, whereby the 7 former zones were retransformed into 5 regions,”
“Our zone will be part of the Region 4 composed of 14 countries, and the Government of Rwanda is ready to host its permanent secretariat with your support,” she added.
The President of the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee (RNOSC) Amb Valens Munyabagisha urged countries in Zone V to fast track the process of implementing, adding that “strategic orientations” from the Kigali forum should set the region on the course for action.
Zone V President Mr William Blick, who also sits on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Marketing Commission made a presentation on the opportunities available, which can be taken advantage of, while the ANOCA Secretary General Eng Ahmed Abou Elgasim Hashim urged countries to take concrete action towards revitalising sport.
Delegates visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre at Gisozi where they paid tribute to the over 250, 000 killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi who are buried there.
ANOCA SG, Eng. Ahmed Abou Elgasim Hashim signing the guest book.
From 28-29 June 2018, ANOCA / ZONE V in collaboration with Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee will organize the first Regional Forum on Sports and Marketing which will take place at Hôtel des Mille Collines, Kigali – Rwanda.
The two-day forum will focus on discussing and deliberating strategic plan of each National Olympic Committee, member of Zone V, that must make full use of the Olympic Solidarity World Program, like the “Youth Olympic Games – Athlete Support” program, based on identification, preparation and participation but also the “Continental Athlete Support Grant” program oriented towards preparation of the African Games.
At the same occasion on the 27th June 2018, ANOCA zone V will have its Executive board meeting at Kigali Serena Hotel and will be attended by 11 delegates.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board met in Birmingham, England from 20-22 June 2018. The 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games was discussed and the following statement outlines the CGF’s latest position on the host city process.
Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said: “The CGF Executive Board empathises with the ongoing circumstances surrounding Northern Ireland’s legislative Assembly and Executive and has maintained a collaborative dialogue with our colleagues in Belfast about their ambitions to stage the Commonwealth Youth Games.
However, with no funding guarantees in place, the CGF Executive Board expressed its disappointment to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council and resolved to begin discussions and invite expressions of interest from other Commonwealth cities who wish to build on the successes of Samoa 2015 and Bahamas 2017 and host the 2021 edition of the Youth Games.
Belfast will be able to re-submit its candidature for 2021, or may wish to postpone its ambitions for a future edition. However, alternative cities and their respective Commonwealth Games Associations will now be given the opportunity to work with the CGF to develop impactful, cost- effective more information that bring to life the event’s vision to inspire and engage up to 1000 of the Commonwealth’s finest young athletes in a festival of sport, development and global friendship.
The host city selection process begins with immediate effect and is expected to take around six months”.
