/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / Events • News • Press Releases/ 0 Comments

RNOSC Presidential handover – IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA & Newly elected RNOSC President Mr. Theo UWAYO.

Yesterday, on the 11th May 2021, the outgoing RNOSC Executive Committee has officially handed over to the newly elected members in the ceremony which took place at the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) headquarters.

The IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA and RNOSC President Mr. Theo UWAYO.

The IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA who was the RNOSC Acting President wished good luck to the new Executive Committee and congratulated them again: “I wish incoming team great success and we will be there for you, congratulations again!”

The newly elected President Mr. Theo UWAYO in his speech: “You have contributed a lot to the development of Rwanda Sport Movement during your tenure in the office and this is a good way of starting to do what we have been elected for.”

The new RNOSC Executive Committee was elected at the RNOSC Elective General Assembly 2021 which took place on the 08th May 2021.

More photos click here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmVBMwSt

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

Theo Uwayo elected President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee for the next four years.

Theo Uwayo was unanimously elected as the new President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) for the next four years. Uwayo who is also the President of the Rwanda Karate Federation, was the sole candidate on this position, garnered 56/56 votes during the RNOSC Elective General Assembly which took place on the 08th of May 2021.

Theo Uwayo taking oath of office.

The date of elections was approved in an Extraordinary General Assembly held on April 17th, 2021.

In his acceptance speech, the new President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee commended the outgoing Executive Committee for the achievements registered over the last four years. Theo Uwayo promised to promote efficiency, good governance and to serve the Olympic movement to the very best of his ability during his tenure.  

“We are grateful for the faith that you have entrusted with us. We pledge to work tirelessly to deliver during our term in office. We will start from where the outgoing committee had reached. Along with my experience, I trust my team’s commitment and competence and we look forward to achieving a lot together in the next four years.” – RNOSC President Theo Uwayo

Newly elected RNOSC President Mr. Theo Uwayo.

The newly elected RNOSC President has been serving as the President of the Rwanda Karate Federation for the last 12 years. Uwayo is also a member of the Executive Board of UFAK (Union of African Karate Federation) and the President of UFAK Zone V.

In her speech, the IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA congratulated the incoming Executive Committee upon their election, and lauded the outgoing Executive Committee for the job well done during the last four years. She urged the new Executive Committee to serve while respecting the Olympic Charter. She also urged the RNOSC members to keep living the Olympic values, which are excellence, friendship and respect.

Other Executive Committee members elected

Umulinga Alice from the Rwanda Volleyball Federation has been elected as the 1st Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, replacing IOC Member Mrs. RWEMARIKA Félicité. Umulinga garnered 54/57 votes. She is a former player of the National Women’s Volleyball team and Kigali Volleyball Club (KVC).

Umutoni Salama from the Rwanda Basketball Federation has been elected as the 2nd Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee. She garnered 56/57 votes. Umutoni is the former Captain of the National Women’s Basketball Team and Second Assistant Coach for both National Women’s Basketball Team and Ubumwe Basketball Club.

Kajangwe Joseph from the Rwanda Football Federation, has been elected as the Secretary General of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, replacing Sharangabo Alexis, OLY. He occupied several positions at the local football governing body since 2012. Kajangwe who heads the Appeals Commission at FERWAFA, got 57/57 votes.

Gakwaya Christian, the President of the Rwanda Automobile Club, has been elected as the Treasurer General of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee. Gakwaya who was elected by 55/55 votes, also represents Africa in FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) Rally Commission.

Girimbabazi Rugabira Pamela has been elected as the Advisor of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, with 54/55 votes. She is currently the President of the Rwanda Swimming Federation and Secretary General of the Rwanda Olympians Association. Girimbabazi is a three-time Olympian in swimming (2000, 2004,2008).

Renowned Sports Journalist Jean Butoyi who is also the President of AJSPOR (Association Prednisone du Sports au Rwanda), has been elected as the Advisor of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee after garnering 55/55 votes. He served as the Head of the Media Commission in the outgoing Executive Committee of RNOSC.

The new RNOSC Executive Committee for 2021-2024 from left: Jean Butoyi (Advisor), Joseph Kajangwe (Secretary General), Salama Umutoni (2nd Vice President), Félicité RWEMARIKA (IOC Member), Theo Uwayo (President), Alice Umulinga (1st Vice President), Christian Gakwaya (Treasurer General) and Girimbabazi Rugabira Pamela (Advisor).

The RNOSC Internal Audit and Conflicts Resolution Committees have also the newly elected members as follows:  

Newly elected members of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee Internal Audit Committee:

– Iribagiza Alice from Rwanda Triathlon Federation (53/55 votes)

– Furaha Pascal from Rwanda Tennis Federation (53/55 votes)

– Nzeyimana Celestin from National Paralympic Rwanda (55/55 votes)

Newly elected members of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee Conflicts Resolution Committee:

– Bagabo Placide from Rwanda Taekwondo Federation (55/55 votes)

– Rwabuhihi Innocent from ARPST/Sport au Travail (55/55 votes)

– Kagarama Clementine from FRSS/Sport Scolaire (54/55 votes)

To view more photos of the RNOSC Elective General Assembly 2021 click here.

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News • Press Releases • Uncategorized/ 0 Comments

RNOSC members decided to hold the elections before Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Today, 17th April 2021, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) held its Extraordinary General Assembly following the resignation of Amb. Valens Munyabagisha from his position as the RNOSC President on April 05th, 2021.

 

One of the group photos after concluding the RNOSC Extraordinary General Assembly, April 17th, 2021.

As a result, the General Assembly unanimously took a resolution to reverse its previous decision on the date of elections and resolved to hold the new Executive Committee elections on May 8th, 2021.

You can find the press release of the event here .

/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / News • Tokyo 2020/ 0 Comments

IOC and IPC respect and accept Japanese decision on overseas spectators.

THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC) AND THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (IPC) WERE TODAY INFORMED BY THE JAPANESE PARTIES IN THE FIVE-PARTIES MEETING ABOUT THEIR CONCLUSION REGARDING OVERSEAS SPECTATORS AT THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 THIS SUMMER. FOR THE REASON OF THE SAFETY OF EVERY GAMES PARTICIPANT AND THE JAPANESE PEOPLE, THEIR CONCLUSION IS FULLY RESPECTED AND ACCEPTED BY THE IOC AND THE IPC.

Getty Images

During the meeting, the IOC and the IPC were informed that, as outlined in the full statement by Tokyo 2020, the conclusion of the Japanese parties is not to allow entry into Japan for overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded.

“We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world, and of course the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the Games,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “For this I am truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices.

“But we have also said that the first principle is safety. Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly. Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organise safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success.

“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit. In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”

“Article of the IOC”

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

Commonwealth: Internship Opportunity 2021-2022.

The Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association in collaboration with the Commonwealth Sports Foundation is offering 12 months placement opportunity starting from February 2021.

The placement will appeal to the candidates who have studied Physical Education and Sports, Business Information Technology, Information Technology, Business Administration and representing a high interest in sport.

This internship is part of the eqUIP program which is an initiative of the  Commonwealth Sport foundation (CSF) that runs in partnership with various bronchial asthma in children in the 6 continental regions of the Commonwealth.

Please send your resume and cover letter by 11 January 2021 before 12:00 PM to [email protected] with copy to [email protected] (mandatory).

Click here for more details.

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

About 90 athletes gathered for a 3-day RNOSC Athletes’ Commission Forum.

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee through the Athletes Commission has hosted its first ever athletes forum which took place at Olympic Hotel from the 19th to the 21st of November 2020.

About 90 participants from 25 National Sports Federations, 4 Olympic scholarship holders, 4 athletes benefiting team support grant program, 6 athletes benefiting ANOCA special grant, 16 Olympians and 25 representatives of the National Sports Federations, had an opportunity to learn about the Olympic Values Education, entrepreneurship skills, Anti-doping and fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

The forum was proposed following the approval of the RNOSC Athletes Commission by the RNOSC General Assembly held on the 11th of November 2020 and its board is composed of 5 members namely: NTAGENGWA Olivier (President) from Rwanda Volleyball Federation, MUKOBWANKAWE Liliane (Vice President) from National Paralympic Committee, UWAYO Clarisse (Member) from Taekwondo Federation, ARERUYA Joseph (Member) from Rwanda Cycling Federation, SHYAKA Olivier (Member) from Rwanda Basketball Federation.

“First of all, we are so happy for this platform (Athletes Commission) and we have learned about different important things during these 3 days including the Olympic values and Athlete365 Career+ to name few, and we are hoping more in the future as everyone is committed to the development of our athletes.” – The RNOSC Athletes Commission President Mr. Olivier Ntagengwa.

The RNOSC Athletes Commission President Mr. Olivier Ntagengwa.

In his closing remarks, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha urged the athletes to go forward and be proactive:

“The athletes must be at the heart of the sports movement but they also have to play their part in preparation and implementation of their projects, they have to help us to know what is good for them and for their career and this is the main goal of this commission.”

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha giving his closing remarks.
A group of participants posing after receiving their certificates.

At the opening ceremony of this forum, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee took the advantage to represent the awards to all Olympians and athletes who have been awarded in recognition of their outstanding efforts towards the Rwanda Sports Movement development. This RNOSC Award Ceremony took place on sidelines of the RNOSC General Assembly 2020.

Rwandan Olympians posing for a group photo with the RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha after receiving their awards.

At the same time the qualified athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games namely Félicien Muhitira and John Hakizimana, and the duos of Olivier Ntagengwa/Akumuntu Kavalo Patrick and Gatsinzi Vénuste/Fils Habintwali, also received their special support grant for the preparations and qualifying tournaments ahead of Tokyo 2020.

Félicien Muhitira
John Hakizimana
The duos of Olivier Ntagengwa/Akumuntu Kavalo Patrick and Gatsinzi Vénuste/Fils Habintwali.
/ By RUGIGANA Jean Claude / Events • News • Press Releases/ 0 Comments

The RNOSC to host the first ever Athletes Commission Forum.

From the 19th to the 21st of November 2020, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee through its Athletes Commission is hosting the first athletes’ forum.

On this occasion, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in partnership with the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Rwanda will also launch a 10-day awareness campaign to fight COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here for the official press release of the event.

 

 

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

25 Sports Journalists completed a 2–day training session about the rules of the games (Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball).

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in partnership with the Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball Federations hosted a training session for Rwandan Sports Journalists about the Rules of the Games.

The 2-day workshop which focused on Basketball, Cycling and Volleyball Rules was sponsored by the Olympic Solidarity and took place from the 28th to the 29th of October 2020 at Olympic Hotel – Kigali.

Group photo of some of participants after closing ceremony

The sessions were organized as follows:

Day 01 of 28 October:

  • Session 01: Cycling Rules by the Cycling Federation National Technical Director Mr. Murenzi Emmanuel and the Commissaire Mr. Ntiyamira Jean Sauveur.
  • Session 02: 2020 Official Basketball Rules by the person in charge of development at the @FERWABA and National Coach Mr. MUTOKAMBALI Moise and the Vice President of National Basketball Referee Association Mr. Gilbert BIRORI.
The National Technical Director of Rwanda Cycling Federation Mr. Emmanuel Murenzi presenting the Cycling Rules to the participants.

Day 02 of 29 October:

  • Session 01: Beach Volleyball Rules by the International Beach Volleyball Referee Mr. NTANTETERI Védaste.

  • Session 02: Volleyball Rules by the International Volleyball Referee Mr. NDAYISABA Alphonse.
The International Volleyball Referee Mr. NDAYISABA Alphonse.

On behalf of the RNOSC Media and Communication Commission Peter Kamasa who is also a sports journalist at the The New Times thanked the RNOSC for the continued support towards a professional career as this is the second training in 2020.

“I would like to thank the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee for the continued support as this is the 2nd training in this year and I believe that these opportunities will improve our career standard. I also encourage my fellow sports journalists to put in action what we are learning.”  – The RNOSC Media and Communication Commission member Peter Kamasa.

The RNOSC Media and Communication Commission member and the New Times Journalist Mr. Peter Kamasa.

The RNOSC Secretary General Alexis SHARANGABO OLY who was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony, he said in his remarks:

 “Allow me to praise the Olympic Solidarity for always backing us in our activities and the RNOSC will continue providing the capacity building courses to our stakeholders as possible as we can.”

“Our solid partnership will surely accelerate the development of both sides (Rwanda Sport Movement and Media Sector).” Alexis added.

The RNOSC Secretary General Alexis SHARANGABO OLY speaking at the opening ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of participants, the founder of Half Time media house Saddam Mihigo:

“We need workshops like these at least once or twice a year to be updated about the Rules of the Games as they are changing with time and the skills gained during these intensive sessions will enable us to be a reliable source of Rwandan sports news.”

Saddam MIHIGO, the Founder and Sports Journalist of Half Time.

One of the trainers, the International Volleyball Referee Mr. Alphonse NDAYISABA has said that to put in action what they learnt that’s what will make Rwandan sport popular and developed.

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens MUNYABAGISHA in his closing remarks: “I would like to say thank you to  everyone who attended this training session and I am delighted to inform you that the RNOSC has so far trained 70% of women who work in Rwandan media sector. Sports Journalists have the power to build or destroy our sports industry, this is why to learn the Rules of the Games is very important for them.”

The RNOSC President Amb. Valens Munyabagisha giving his closing remarks.

 25 Rwandan Sports Journalists who dedicated their time for these 2 days have been given certificates of completion.

Some photos of the ceremony:

Kamukama Annet, Sports Journalist at Radio/TV10.
Ukurikiyimfura Eric Tony, Sports Journalist at www.igihe.com
Bugingo Fidèle, Sports Journalist at Imvaho Nshya.
Iradukunda Yvonne, Sports Journalist at B&B FM-Umwezi.

List of participants: Ndayisaba Léonidas (Flash FM), SIKUBWABO Damas (The Newtimes), Bugingo Fidèle (Imvaho Nshya), Iraguha Edmond (Salus Radio), Ukurikiyimfura Eric Tony (IGIHE), Hitimana Jean Claude (Royal FM), Nsengiyumva Abubakar Sadiki (B&B FM-Umwezi), Iradukunda Yvonne (B&B FM-Umwezi), Uwihanganye Hardi (Funclub), Uwase Antoinette Bora (Funclub), Kanyamahanga Jean Claude (City Radio), Kwizera Jean Claude (RBA), Nyaminani Isabelle (RBA), Mihigo Saddam (Halftime), Ndabateze Jean Bosco (Umucyo Radio), Kuradusenge Isaac (Kigali Today), Mukeshimana Assoumpta (Radio/TV1), Keppra Levetiracetam, Bahizi Craish (The New Times), Tumukunde Joselyne (Authentic Radio/TV), Nkomeje Guillaume (Kigalilive), Kamukama Annet (Radio/TV10), Sifakwamungu Anicet (Izuba Radio/TV), Uwingabiye Aimable (Life Radio) and Niyonsenga Aimé Augustin (Huguka Radio).

                                            ###

Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee continues to empower and strengthen capacity-Skills for both elite sports and Sports for All as well as to uplift sports disciplines which are lagging behind by training the sports administrators.