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Icyegeranyo cy’amakuru y’imikino yaranze icyumweru |10-17 Mutarama 2025, Kanda Hano

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), on December 16th,  18th and 21st 2024, organized a three-day series of workshops aimed at enhancing leadership and management capabilities within its newest member federations: Skating, Netball, and Badminton. Held at the RNOSC offices, the workshops were designed to equip participants with essential governance skills and knowledge to foster the growth and development of their respective sports.

The workshops, titled “Advancing Leadership and Management at Federation and Club Levels,” covered a range of topics, including the Olympic Movement, RNOSC programmes, administrative protocols, conflict prevention and resolution, and the roles and responsibilities of federation leaders. Each federation was allocated a dedicated day to address its specific needs and challenges.

The Rwanda Skating Federation inaugurated the series on December 16, 2024, with 15 participants, including Executive Committee members and club representatives. Discussions focused on governance, conflict resolution, and strategic planning. The federation’s president, Mr. Tuyiringire Justin, expressed gratitude for the workshop and emphasized its importance in advancing the skating community.

The Rwanda Netball Association followed on December 18, 2024, hosting seven participants. Key discussions revolved around launching a National Netball Championship and overcoming operational challenges. RNA Secretary General, Mr. Jean Pierre Habimana, highlighted the session’s value in refining strategies for growth and addressing conflicts effectively.

Concluding the series on December 21, 2024, the Rwanda Badminton Sports Federation welcomed 25 participants. Engaging discussions centered on badminton’s achievements, challenges, and future plans. Federation President Muhama Alphonse emphasized the importance of proactive leadership and collaboration to ensure sustainable growth.

RNOSC Secretary General, Mr. Joseph Kajangwe, underscored the workshops’ significance in building strong governance structures within federations. “Every sport requires visionary leadership to thrive. The knowledge and skills gained here will play a critical role in shaping the future of these federations,” he noted.

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), hosted a 4-day workshop for Anti-Doping educators representing 27 national federations, running from December 12th to 15th 2024. Held at the RNOSC offices, the workshop aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to promote clean and fair sports across Rwanda.

Over 50 representatives took part in the workshop, which provided a comprehensive overview of the Anti-Doping landscape. Key topics included the prohibited substances list, supplements, the 11 Anti-Doping rules and violations, doping test procedures, and strategies for educating athletes and clubs. The interactive sessions featured group activities where participants designed tailored Anti-Doping programs for their federations, ensuring practical application of the knowledge gained.

The workshop opened with a session led by Dr. Nuhu Assuman, President of the RNOSC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, who introduced the Anti-Doping landscape, highlighting the rights, responsibilities, and rules athletes must follow. Dr. Assuman also emphasized the significance of strict liability and the consequences of doping violations.

Charles Nkurunziza, Country Representative of the African Zone V Regional Anti-Doping Organization, praised Rwanda’s leadership in the region: “Rwanda is a model for the sporting sector. Our goal is to ensure athletes’ first encounter with Anti-Doping is through education, not testing, and we’re committed to supporting this effort.”

One of the highlights of the workshop was a session on the ITA reporting platform, where participants were introduced to whistleblower policies and tools to report violations. Attendees also explored the prohibited list in detail, learning to classify substances into categories such as those prohibited at all times, those banned only during competition, and those restricted in specific sports.

Participants engaged actively throughout the workshop. Rusamaza Alphonse, President of the Rwanda Swimming Federation, speaking on behalf of the participants, shared: “We’ve studied critical topics like the prohibited list, supplements, and the rules and violations. This knowledge will be instrumental in educating our clubs and athletes. We’ve also learned how to guide young athletes towards clean sport.”

 

The workshop concluded with a certificate ceremony, recognizing the educators’ efforts and their readiness to serve as Anti-Doping focal points within their federations. RNOSC Secretary General Joseph Kajangwe underscored the importance of the initiative: “Doping is a tragedy not only for athletes but for nations and international competitions. These workshops will continue because we are all committed to clean sport.”

From November 21–24, 2024, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), in partnership with The Association For International Sport For All (TAFISA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), hosted the TAFISA Certified Leadership Course (CLC) Level 1. Held at Lemigo Hotel, Kigali, this four-day workshop aimed to enhance leadership within the global Sport For All movement, aligning with the Olympism 365 Strategy by the International Olympic Committee.

The workshop convened diverse stakeholders, including representatives from Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports, the Rwanda Defense Force, Rwanda National Police, Kigali City, and national sports federations. Facilitated by TAFISA experts Ms. Game Mothibi and Ms. Paulina Lanco, the sessions aimed to foster inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation in Rwanda’s sports sector.

The course was structured around five thematic modules, each offering a unique perspective on advancing Sport For All initiatives:

Game Changers: The Transformative Power of Sport for All Worldwide, exploring the transformative power of Sport for All in driving socio-economic and health benefits.Harmony in Action: Navigating Global Voices in Sport for All Policy and Strategy, focusing on crafting inclusive policies and building collaborative networks.

Shaping Trailblazers: Empowering Positive Leadership in Sport for All, highlighting leadership styles and strategies to foster community-focused actions.

Striving for Success: Mastering the Art of Designing and Delivering Impactful Initiatives, providing tools for designing inclusive, engaging Sport for All initiatives.

Sporting Futures: Building Happy and Healthy Communities for Tomorrow, emphasizing sustainable approaches for long-term impact in Sport for All programs.

Participants engaged in interactive group exercises, including SWOT analyses of Sport For All in Rwanda, where they identified a variety of advantages and challenges faced by sport for all initiatives in Rwanda. These discussions laid the foundation for actionable strategies to advance inclusivity and accessibility in sports.

Networking exercises encouraged participants to map out stakeholders and beneficiaries, such as ministries, sports federations, vulnerable groups, and communities. Effective outreach methods, including public awareness campaigns and media engagement, were identified as critical for success.

The workshop concluded with a certificate ceremony to recognize participants’ dedication. RNOSC 2nd Vice President Ms. Umutoni Salama praised the facilitators and participants for their commitment to fostering inclusivity and collaboration in sports. Facilitator Ms. Game Mothibi encapsulated the event’s ethos: “#SportForAll isn’t just about inclusion—it’s about fostering kindness and support through sports. Understand your peers’ situations and always be ready to offer help.”

The Rwandan National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), through its Athletes’ Commission, hosted the Athletes’ Forum 2024 from November 6-7 at the Olympic Hotel in Kigali. This gathering brought together 101 participants including 60 athletes (34 women and 26 men), alongside prominent stakeholders in Rwanda’s Olympic Movement. The forum aimed to empower athletes, providing them a platform to voice their concerns, aspirations, and ideas and strengthen their involvement in decision-making processes.

The forum opened with key members of Rwanda’s Olympic Movement, underscoring the importance of athletes in advancing Olympic values. As they reiterated the organizational structure of the Olympic Movement as well as the Olympic Solidarity Programmes, Jean Claude Rugigana, RNOSC Executive Director, Joseph Kajangwe, RNOSC Secretary General, and Kayiranga Albert, President of the National Olympic Academy, encouraged participants to embrace their pivotal role in the Olympic mission.

The first day featured discussions on safeguarding athletes, led by notable experts. Jean Claude Ntirenganya, a crime prevention specialist from the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), highlighted measures to protect athletes from harassment and abuse. Mr. Ntirenganya emphasized that the sport sector is not as immune to crime just like anywhere else, shedding light on particular ones such as match-fixing, bribery, doping, assault and more. 

In a practical session, Mugabe Aristide, President of the RNOSC Athlete Commission, introduced the Athlete365 Learning Platform, which equips athletes with tools for personal development, career transitions, and life skills. The session also provided guidance on how to open accounts on this platform, allowing the athletes to immediately access available opportunities.

Athletes actively contributed to the conversation, sharing their perspectives and reaffirming their commitment to report incidents of harassment and abuse. This open dialogue emphasized collective responsibility in fostering a safe sporting environment.

The second day delved into key themes of mental health, anti-doping, competition integrity, and gender inclusivity. Clinical psychologist Dr. Patrick Rwagatare led a session on mental health strategies, equipping athletes with practical tools to manage stress and maintain emotional balance. Meanwhile, Dr. Nuhu Assuman, from the RNOSC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, stressed the importance of ethical responsibility and compliance with anti-doping regulations towards fair competition and true sportsmanship. 

A virtual session by Laura Valle of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) explored competition manipulation prevention, promoting a culture of fairness. A highlight of the day was an inspiring talk by Rwemarika Felicite, IOC Member, and gender equality advocate. With a practical example  of the Paris 2024 Games  where women comprised 62.5% of Rwanda’s Olympic team, she called on athletes to champion inclusivity and representation in their respective disciplines.

The forum featured an interactive Q&A session with RNOSC Acting President Umulinga Alice, providing athletes the opportunity to express their concerns and aspirations directly. She emphasized RNOSC’s commitment to fostering collaboration and encouraged participants to share the forum’s insights with their peers.

The forum concluded with reflections from Umulinga Alice, Acting RNOSC President, and Rwego Ngarambe, Director General of Sports Development at MINISPORTS. Both leaders emphasized the importance of empowering athletes and fostering collaboration to shape the future of sports in Rwanda.

The RNOSC plans to sustain the forum’s momentum through follow-up initiatives informed by athlete feedback. This year’s event reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to transparency, collaboration, and integrity in sports, setting the foundation for an inclusive and empowered athletic community in Rwanda.