The Rwanda National Olympic and Sport Committee (RNOSC) is currently exploring the possibility of competing at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games that will be held in Pyeongchang in the Republic of Korea from February 9-25.
This follows a recent visit of a six-man delegation from Rwanda that trained at the Alpensia resort in Pyeongchang from January 12-27, with focus on downhill skiing as a test event at the ‘Dream Program’, an annual winter sports training camp for international youths including those in snowless regions.
Led by Martin Koonce, the Executive Director of the RNOSC, Rwanda was represented by three Paralympians namely; IPC World Championships gold medalist Hermas Cliff Muvunyi, Emile Cadet Vuningabo and Dinnah Kabazayire as well as two taekwondo players including Daphine Uwababyeyi and Vincent Munyakazi.
“It is a real possibility that Rwandans can participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics and be competitive if we begin preparing now and if we believe,” mentioned Koonce who was also coach in Pyeongchang.
The focus will be to compete in downhill skiing, short track speed skating, crosscountry skiing and biathlon, which is a combination of shooting and crosscountry skiing.
Muvunyi expressed delight and said, “It was a good experience and there is hope that we can perform well and with the same enthusiasm, the 15 year old Uwababyeyi, a junior taekwondo player said, “This is the best time of my life. My world has changed.”
Over 150 youths from 37 countries from across the world took part in this 10-year program including Brunei, Philippines, Ukraine, India, Thailand, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico as well as other African countries like Togo, Gabon, Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.