News

IOC Statement

THE PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC), THOMAS BACH, AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN, ABE SHINZO, HELD A CONFERENCE CALL THIS MORNING TO DISCUSS THE CONSTANTLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT WITH REGARD TO COVID-19 AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020.

They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.

President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.

In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.

The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is “accelerating”. There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.

In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have meldonium is justified that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.

The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Communique

On 17^th March 2020 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a communique regarding the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and on 18^th March 2020, President of IOC Dr. Thomas Bach had a video conference with the IOC stakeholders updating them on corona virus issues four months before the opening ceremony in Tokyo on July 24^th. He particularly had discussions with the Presidents of African National Olympic Committees at 17:30.

1. President Thomas Bach informed the NOC Presidents that the situation around the COVID-19 virus is impacting the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is changing day by day, but the IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.
2. President Bach has confidence that the many measures being taken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation of the COVID-19 virus and will continue to act in a responsible way. The IOC will always be guided by the following principles: “1. to protect the health of everyone involved and to support the containment of the virus and 2. to painkillers the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport”.
3. To date, 57% of the athletes are already qualified for the Games. For the remaining 43% per cent of places, the IOC will work with the IFs to make any necessary and practical adaptations to their respective qualification systems for Tokyo 2020, in line with the following principles:
4. All quota places that have already been allocated to date remain allocated to the NOCs and athletes that obtained them.
5. The possibility remains to use existing and scheduled qualification events, wherever these still have fair access for all athletes and teams.
6. All necessary adaptations to qualification systems and all allocation of remaining places will be based on on-field results (e.g. IF ranking or historical results) and reflect where possible the existing principles of the respective qualification systems (e.g. use of rankings or continental/regional specific event results).
7. Any increase in athlete quotas will be considered on a case-by-case basis under exceptional circumstances, with the support of the Organizing Committee Tokyo 2020.
8. Any necessary revisions to the Tokyo 2020 qualification systems by sport will be published by the beginning of April 2020 and communicated to all stakeholders.

After consultations and discussions, all the IOC stakeholders (IFs, NOCs and Athletes) supported the initiatives taken by President Thomas Bach and the entire team of IOC and requested to remain regularly updated on the coronavirus issues and the preparations of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Reference made to the new Rwanda’s Ministry of Health measures to Prevent COVID-19 Coronavirus Transmission, Here is the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee Statement: RNOSC Official Announcememt Regarding the COVID-19.

 

 

 

Yesterday, on 27th January 2020, the Hachimantai City – Japan delegation visited the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC).

RNOSC President Amb. Valens posing with the Hachimantai City Delegation.

The visit aimed at preparing the second phase of training camp which is set to take place in Hachimantai city in June 2020 as part of preparations of Rwandan athletes ahead of this year’s Olympic Games which will be held in Tokyo from the 24th July 2020 to the 9th August 2020.

It is expected that Hachimantai city will host the Cycling, Beach Volleyball and Athletics teams for a training camp of maximum 1 month before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

RNOSC held a meeting with Hachimantai and both parties agreed on some points such as disciplines to be considered and cultural exchange event. 

The Hachimantai delegation was composed by the Hachimantai City Vice mayor Mr. OKADA Hisashi, Hachimantai City Regional development division assistant manager Mr. HIGASHIMOTO Shigeki and Hachimantai City Region development section staff Mr. YOSHIDA Chikara.

With a perfect guided tour by the RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha accompanied by the RNOSC Executive Director Mr. Jean De Dieu Mukundiyukuri, the delegation visited different sports facilities including Amahoro National Stadium, Kigali Arena and Africa Rising Cycling Center based in Musanze District – Northern Province.

Hachimantai City delegation visited Kigali Arena, the 10,000-seater facility.

The delegation touring the Amahoro National Stadium.

Hachimantai delegation in Musanze district at the Africa Rising Cycling Center.

On the same day, the guests had an opportunity to be received by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Mr. Shema Maboko Didier.

“I strongly commend your partnership with our National Olympic Committee and we are happy that it’s taking a high level. The Ministry of Sports is committed to support the Rwandan athletes before and during Tokyo 2020.” Permanent Secretary said.

The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Sport, Mr. Shema Maboko Didier receiving in his offices the Hachimantai city delegation.

Group photo after the meeting (from left: RNOSC Executive Director, Mr. Jean De Dieu Mukundiyukuri, Hachimantai City Regional development division assistant manager Mr. HIGASHIMOTO Shigeki, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of  Sports, Mr. Shema Maboko Didier, Hachimantai City Vice mayor Mr. OKADA Hisashi, RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha and Hachimantai City Region development section staff Mr. YOSHIDA Chikara).

In May 2018, The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with Hachimantai city of Japan ahead of preparations for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The first phase of training camp of Team Rwanda in Hachimantai as part of this agreement which took place from 21 July 2019 to the 15th August 2019 has already contributed to the good performance of Rwandan Cycling and Beach Volleyball Teams in All African Games which took place in Rabat, Morocco from 19-31 August 2019. Both Teams won 3 bronze medals (2 cycling, 1 beach Volleyball) following an intensive training camp in Hachimantai city.

Today, 04th December 2019, The President of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha receives in his offices the Chargé d’Affaires in the Embassy of Japan to Rwanda, Ms. Yuko Hotta.

The RNOSC President, Amb. Valens Munyabagisha having meeting with the Chargé d’Affaires in the Embassy of Japan to Rwanda, Ms. Yuko Hotta in his offices.

The visit aims at boosting the bilateral relations of two institutions, preparing together the visit of Mr. Ryosuke Ando from Japanese Olympic Games Cabinet Secretariat to the RNOSC which is scheduled on 23rd December 2019 and donation ceremony of some equipment to Rwanda Triathlon Federation. They have also discussed about the preparations of Rwandan delegation for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In May 2018, The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with Hachimantai city of Japan ahead of preparations for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The first phase of training camp of Team Rwanda in Hachimantai as part of this agreement which took place from 21 July 2019 to the 15th August 2019 has already immensely contributed to the good performance of Rwandan Cycling and Beach Volleyball Teams in All African Games which held in Rabat, Morocco from 19-31 August 2019 where they took home 3 bronze medals respectively.

The second phase is set to take place in the same city, Hachimantai in June 2020 before the Olympic Games.

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha.

The Chargé d’Affaires in the Embassy of Japan to Rwanda, Ms. Yuko Hotta.

The Head of Political and Economic Section/Embassy of Japan in Rwanda, Ms. Mai Makizono.

The RNOSC Executive Director, Jean de Dieu Mukundiyukuri. 

Group photo.

1. Rwanda Handball Federation 

Rwanda has been confirmed as the hosts of the 38th East and Central Africa Handball Federation (ECAHF) Senior Club Championship 2019 due December 2-7.

The regional championship will attract top clubs from Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Uganda, Zambia and Rwanda in the men’s category, while the women’s competition, also to be held in Kigali, will be contested by teams from Uganda, Tanzania, Yasmin, Kenya and Rwanda.

The games will be hosted at two venues; Kimisagara Youth Centre courts and the Amahoro National Stadium.

2. Rwanda Basketball Federation 

1. Rwanda Tennis Federation

Rwanda Open Full program: 

• Friday 22/11/2019: 11h: 00: (Press Conference)
• Sunday 24/11/2019: 10h00: Opening   Match Amateurs/Remera
• Monday: 25/11/2019: 09h00: Opening   Match Professionals/Remera                                                                                                                                                       CSK, Nyarutarama T.C & Remera
• Tuesday: 26/11/2019: 09h00 – 15h00:  Match Professionals/ Remera

                                                       16h00 – 20h00:  Match Amateurs – CSK, Nyarutarama T.C & Remera 

• Wednesday: 27/11/2019: 09h00 –  15h00:  Match Professionals /Remera

                                                               16h00 – 20h00:  Match Amateurs

                                                              CSK, Nyarutarama T.C & Remera

• Thursday: 28/11/2019: 09h00 –  15h00:  Match Professionals /Remera

                                                           16h00 – 20h00:  Match Amateurs-  CSK, Nyarutarama T.C & Remera

• Friday: 29/11/209: 10h00 – 15h00: Matches ¼ Finals/ Remera  
• Saturday: 30/11/2019: 11h00 – 14h00: Matches ½ / Remera
• Sunday: 01/12/2019: 10h00-13h00:Matches Finales (Closing ceremony)

  2. Rwanda Handball Federation 

Rwanda has been confirmed as the hosts of the 38th East and Central Africa Handball Federation (ECAHF) Senior Club Championship 2019 due December 2-7.

The regional championship will attract top clubs from Kenya, Tanzania, DRC, Uganda, Zambia and Rwanda in the men’s category, while the women’s competition, also to be held in Kigali, will be contested by teams from Uganda, Tanzania, DR Congo, Kenya and Rwanda.

The games will be hosted at two venues; Kimisagara Youth Centre courts and the Amahoro National Stadium.

3. Rwanda Basketball Federation 

On this Friday, 29 November 2019, the finals of Agaciro Basketball Tournament 2019 will take place at Kigali Arena.