In the Commonwealth Youth Games which are underway in Bahamas from 19 to 23 July 2017, The Beach Volleyball National Team of two girls, Penelope Musabyimana and Valentine Munezero have made unbelievable record as they are qualified to the semi finals after stunning the number one Caribbean country in Beach Volleyball Vanuatu 2-0 in the quarter finals.
Due to the excellent performance for the Rwandan side, they are the only African team in top 4. In semi finals, Rwanda is facing Australia to reach the podium.
“Our eyes are now on the podium. the last victory is our motivation and i am expecting more from my team, i believe in them they can do it”, said Coach MUDAHINYUKA Christophe.
The delegation took team photo before heading to Bahamas.
Rwanda Youth Beach Volleyball and Tennis teams yesterday headed to Nassau, in the Bahamas ahead of the sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games that will be held on July 19-23.
The beach volleyball pair of Penelope Musabyimana and Valentine Munezero, led by coach Christophe Mudahinyuka, have been in residential camp at Golden Tulip Hotel for the last one month.
“We are heading to the tournament with the purpose of doing well. We need to play attractive beach volleyball and we need to finish on top five, but if we can go all way and win a medal, that would be even excellent and memorable,” Mudahinyuka said.
The Commonwealth Youth Games are held every four years and age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18 years. Rwanda will also be represented by Ernest Habiyambere in tennis. Rwanda’s number one tennis player, Habiyambere will be coached by Sylvain Rutikanga.
The delegation will be led by Jean de Dieu Mukundiyukuri, who is the Chef de Mission, while Hermine E’germa will be in charge for the girls.
These games are expected to bring together 1,000 athletes from 71 commonwealth countries.
The athletes will fall between the ages of 14 to 18 competing in nine disciplines including athletics, swimming, rugby, cycling, judo, boxing, tennis, beach volleyball and beach soccer.
It will be Rwanda’s first appearance at the youth event since joining Commonwealth in 2009, despite being regular participants in the Commonwealth Games (for seniors) since 2010.
The Advancing Women in Leadership Forum for Africa and Asia will be held in Kigali from 9th to 11th August, 2017.
Photo: Internet.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has chosen Rwanda to host the Advancing Women in Leadership Forum for Africa and Asia 2017. The IOC was created more than a century ago with the goal of making a contribution to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind, and harnessing the power of sport at the service of humanity”.
Traditionally, women were not allowed to participate in the Games, which were exclusively for men. Times have changed, and the IOC has played an important role in establishing a positive trend to enhance women’s participation in sport. Over the last 20 years, the IOC has been advocating for the participation of women at all levels, encouraging National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and International Federations (IFs) to enhance the presence of women in sport.
For a number of years, the OIC has sponsored a series conferences thus creating forums for women in leadership in various countries with the goal of expanding the women-in-sport network. These conferences provide unique opportunities for sports federations to share best practices and effective strategies for increasing the number of women in leadership roles.
Why Rwanda to host The Advancing Women in Leadership Forum for Africa and Asia 2017:
Rwanda has been a world leader in having the highest number of women in parliament. In addition, there has been increased political will to promote the participation of women sports and through this support the NOC has registered a number of successes since 2012 namely; 30% of women representation in the executive committee, increased numbers of women coaches, female international referees, CAF women instructors, increased participation in Olympic games.
Above all, in 2016, The IOC Women and Sports Trophy for Africa was won by a Rwandan woman who is the current First Vice President of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Madam RWEMALIKA Félicité.
Madam RWEMALIKA Félicité receiving the Award.
More specifically in Rwanda, women sport has been used by women as a tool for unity and reconciliation following the aftermath of the genocide and it became a forum for conversations on important social issues such as HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, poverty eradication via creation of income generation activities etc.
It is expected that the following personalities will attend:
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), THOMAS Bach.
The President of the Association of National Olympic Committees, member of the International Olympic Committee, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahd Al-Sabah.
The President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Ivorian National Olympic Committee and President of the African Judo Union, The Intendant General Lassana Palenfo.
The Member of the Executive Committee and vice-president of the International Olympic Committee, Nawal El Moutawakel.
IOC member and FIFA Executive Committee, Chairperson of the International Women’s Committee of the International Olympic Committee and current President of the National Olympic Committee of Burundi, Madam Lydia Nsekera.
To host this event, It will be an opportunity to promote the grassroots movement for women in sports development through out the country, the image and visibility of Rwanda to the rest of the World.
Within month of June, every year, The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee in partnership with the Ministry of Sports and Culture organize Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) through their members, national federations. This annual event is held in remembrance of all sportsmen, fans and officials who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
More federations took part in this year’s Genocide Memorial Tournament compared to the previous years as 20 in 34 federations participated:
BASKETBALL: On 11th June 2017
Men’s final REG 81-69 Espoir
Third place Patriots 65-56 IPRC-South
Veterans UGB (Rwa) 58-71 VC Bakolo (DRC)
Women’s final Berco Stars (Bdi) 58-72 APR
Third place IPRC-South 33-44 Scandinavia (DRC)
REG BBC.
CHESS : 09-11 June 2017
Seventy-eight players from eight countries: Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, RD Congo, UK and USA competed :
INTERNATIONAL / FIDE RATED SECTION
First Place: NSUBUGA HARUNA (UGANDA)
Second Place: SSONKO MATHIAS ALLAN (UGANDA)
Third Place: WANYAMA HAROLD (UGANDA)
OPEN / UNRATED SECTION
First Place: WERE SAMUEL (UGANDA)
Second Place: MWAKA EMMANUEL (UGANDA)
Third Place: MUNYURANGABO LONGIN (RWANDA)
Best Lady in International Section: KAYESU IVY (UGANDA)
Best Junior in International Section: MURARA IAN
Best Lady in Open Section: UWASE JOSELYNE
Best Junior in Open Section: MUNYURANGABO LONGIN
TAEKWONDO : 10th June 2017
Rwanda Taekwondo Federation organized an International Competition and three countries namely Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Burundian Refugees from Mahama Camp.
-40 KG JUNIOR FEMALE
1.ITERITEKA SHANNY (CAMP MAHAMA)
2.IZABAYO THIANA (CAMP MAHAMA)
3.IRAFASHA LYDIA (CAMP MAHAMA)
4.NIYONASABYE LATIFA (BETTER WORLD)
+40 KG JUNIOR FEMALE
1.UMURERWA NADEGE (UNITY)
2.TUYISHIMIRE SONIA (DREAM FIGHTERS)
3.INGABIRE ANITHA (SPECIAL LINE UP)
-40 KG JUNIOR MALE
1.SHEMA CYUBAHIRO ELISSA (DREAM)
2.AHISHAKIYE SHALOM (DREAM)
3.NIYONZIMA JACQUES (BETTER WORLD)
4.NIYONGERE WILSON (CAMP MAHAMA)
-50 KG JUNIOR MALE
1.NIYOMUGABO HAPPY (IYF)
2.IRADUKUNDA MUCYO YVAN (DREAM)
3.RUGAMBWA JUNIOR (DREAM FIGHTERS)
+50 KG JUNIOR MALE
1.TUYISHIMIRE ERIC (TAEKWO KICK)
2.BYUKUSENGE ERIC (DREAM)
3.TUYISHIMIRE FABRICE (TAEKWO KICK)
4.NGIRIYAREMYE DAN (DREAM FIGHTERS)
-53 KG SENIOR FEMALE
1.UMURERWA LAISSA (DREAM)
2.NDACYAYISENGA ALINE (DREAM)
+53 KG SENIOR FEMALE
1.BENIMANA YVONNE (DREAM)
2.AKIMANA BETTY (DREAM)
3.UWAYO CLARISSE (DREAM FIGHTERS)
-54 KG SENIOR MALE
1.KAYITARE BENON (IYF)
2.OCHWO DERRCICK (UGANDA)
3.KAYIZI VINCENT (CAMP MAHAMA)
4.KWIZERA SWEZER (CAMP MAHAMA)
-58 KG SENIOR MALE
1.SEKANYAMBO JEAN PAUL (IYF)
2.BYIRINGIRO ABRAHAM (DREAM FIGHTERS)
3.KAMANA LATIFA (UNITY)
4.NIYIGIZE JEAN DE DIEU (DREAM)
-63 KG SENIOR MALE
1.CYUBAHIRO ARTHUR (DREAM FIGHTERS)
2.IYUMVA REGIS (IYF)
3.GATERA SAMUEL (DREAM)
4.OCHAKA SAMUEL (UGANDA)
-68 KG SENIOR MALE
1.TWIZEYIMANA MUSSA (DREAM)
2.MUNYAKAZI VINCENT (DREAM)
3.MURAGIJIMANA ISRAEL (IYF)
4.MANIRIHO JEAN CLAUDE (KANIGA)
-74 KG SENIOR MALE
1.NIZEYIMANA SAVIO (DREAM)
2.EGACH ROGERS (UGANDA)
3.HABIMANA PAUL (KIGALI JUSTICE)
4.RWASA JOEL (CAMP MAHAMA)
+74 KG SENIOR MALE
1.GITTA HUSSEIN (UGANDA)
2.OWORI FRANCIS (UGANDA)
TEAM STANDING
1.DREAM TAEKWONDO CLUB (RWANDA)
2.MAHAMA REFUGEES CAMP TAEKWONDO TEAM (BURUNDI)
3.UGANDA TAEKWONDO TEAM
SPORT AUTOMOBILE : 10th June 2017
Slalom Memorial 2017
First Place: SEKAMANA FURAHA 1’25’’
Second Place: NDABATEZE JIMMY 1’31’’
Third Place: SAFARI CHRISTOPHER 1’36’’
FENCING : 10th June 2017
Men’s Category:
1.NDUWAMUNGU PATIENT
2.NYABAGABO DARCY
3.RUBEN DUNKEY
Women’s Category:
1.UWIHOREYE TUFAHA
2.INGABIRE NOELLA
3.HAKIZIMFURA CLEMENTINE
KARATE : 10th June 2017
Clubs based in Kigali dominated Karate Genocide Memorial tournament 2017
INDIVIDUAL KATA FEMALE
1.UWASE LAZIA (ZEN KARATE DO CLUB)
2.UWIZERA EVELYNE (MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB)
3.BYIRINGIRO JOYCE (MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB)
INDIVIDUAL KATA MALE
1.USENGIMANA OMAR (MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB)
2.MUNYESHYAKA VINCENT (MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB)
3.SHYAKA VICTOR (LION)
INDIVIDUAL KUMITE FEMALE
1.CYUZUZO SAKINA (FLYING EAGLE)
2.UWIZERA EVELYNE (MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB)
3.ISHIMWE SANDRINE (KIBEHO KARATE DO CLUB)
TEAM KATA MALE
1.ZEN KARATE DO CLUB
2.MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB
3.UR HUYE CAMPUS
TEAM KUMITE MALE
1.LION
2.MAMARU KARATE DO CLUB
3.ZEN B
FOOTBALL:Sunday, 11th June 2017
8 teams from different Football Centres located at Musanze District competed:
Men’s final
LES ABEILLES 2 – 0 VOLCANIC GORILLAS
TENNIS: Saturday, June 17th, 2017
Rwanda Tennis Federation prepared an international competition:
Nyirarukundo Salome on the podium with the minister Hon. Uwacu Julienne.
Rwanda’s fast-rising female long distance runner Salome Nyirarukundo has ended a decade-long jinx at the Kigali International Peace Marathon after winning the 21km gold on Sunday.
The 20-year old came into the race as the country’s main medal hopeful and she didn’t disappoint after putting on a stunning solo performance to claim gold beating a strong field comprising of Kenyans that had dominated the annual event in the previous 12 editions.
The former APR athlete posted one hour, 15 minutes and 28 seconds hence becoming the first Rwandan woman to strike gold, improving on the silver medal she won last year. Only Dieudonne Disi had won gold in the men’s half marathon in 2006.
The Rustiro-born athlete comfortably beat her closest contender Sheilla Chesang by a gap of almost five minutes—he Kenyan clocked one hour, 20 minutes and 24 seconds to settle for silver, whole Rwandan Claudette Mukasakindi claimed bronze after using one hour, 20 minutes and 36 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kenyans continued their dominancy of the full marathon in both men and women categories.
In the men’s category, Gilbert Chumba Kipleting won gold posting 2h:19’:49” ahead of his compatriots Edwin Kiyeng Kemboi (2h:19’:57”) while James Tallam claimed bronze in 2h:20’:00”.
Beatrice Rutto Jepkorir took gold n the women category using 2h:46’:38”, while Pamela Bundotich Chepkoech claimed silver posting 2h:47’:21” and Sarah Jerop Legat settled for bronze after clocking 2h:47’:24”.
In the men half marathon, Kenya’s Bartile Kipkoech Kipto won gold using 1h:04’:25”, Ezekiel Mutai Kimeli, also from Kenya took silver in 1h:05’:38 with Rwandan John Hakizimana scoopingbronze after posting 1h:05:48”.
<The New Times>
More photos of the day:
On finish line.The President of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Amb. MUNYABAGISHA Valens.
Denyse Mutatsimpundu and Charlotte Nzayisenga overcame Moroccan to win gold medal at the 2017 CAVB Beach Volleyball Cup in Maputo
It was a dream come true for Rwanda’s beach volleyball players Denyse Mutatsimpundu and Charlotte Nzayisenga after they overcame Moroccan opponents to win gold medal at the 2017 CAVB Beach Volleyball Cup in Maputo, Mozambique, on Sunday evening.
With this victory, Rwanda qualified for the 2017 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships that will be held from July 28 to August 6 in Vienna, Austria. They qualified along with Morocco, Kenya and Mozambique.
Mutatsimpundu and Nzayisenga
Morocco won opening set 21-12 before Rwanda bouncing back to claim the second set 21-19 and the decisive 3rd one 15-13.
In 2012, Mutatsimpundu and Nzayisenga while playing at the junior level, won gold at the Africa Championships in Togo but failed to participate in the World Championships in Canada after the hosts denied the Rwandan team visas.
Meanwhile, Rwanda’s men’s duo of brothers Flavier Ndamukunda and Patrick Kavalo Akumuntu finished in fifth place and failed to qualify for the World Championships.
Only the top four teams namely; Morocco, South Africa, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, qualified to represent Africa in Vienna, Austria.
Rwandan MP to the EALA and Hon. Martin Ngoga was on Thursday elected to the FIFA Congress as the Deputy chairman of the FIFA Ethics Committee-Investigatory chamber.
According to FIFA, the proposed list of candidates for the Audit and Compliance Committee, the Governance Committee and the judicial bodies was agreed to following a thorough consultation process involving FIFA and the six confederations.
The decision on the final list of candidates was then elected unanimously with a 97% win by the FIFA Congress which was held on Thursday attracting 209 out of the 211 member associations.
These individuals have been chosen because they are recognised, high-profile experts in their respective fields. Moreover, they better reflect the geographic and gender diversity that must be a part of an international organisation like FIFA.
Hon. Ngoga, a former Prosecutor General and staunch Mukura VS supporter alongside other members in the Ethics Committee were elected for a term of office of four years, effective immediately.
Commenting on the development via his twitter handle, Hon.Ngoga said, “Honored & humbled to join FIFA ethics committee, looking forward to making my contribution towards a new destiny of the sport we love,”
The New FIFA Ethics Committee-Investigatory chamber will be chaired by Madam María Claudia Rojas from Colombia, a former President of the Council of State.
She will be deputized by both Canada’s Queen’s Counsel Bruno de Vita and Rwanda’s former Prosecutor General, Hon. Ngoga.
Members on this committee include; Chinese He Jiahong who will be represeting Asia, Kenyan Janet Katisya who will be representing Africa, Michael Llamas from Gibraltar who will be representing Europe, José Ernesto Mejía from Honduras who will be representing North, Central America and Caribbean while John Tougon from Vanuatu will be representing Oceania.
The independent Ethics Committee is one of FIFA’s judicial bodies. It is primarily responsible for investigating possible infringements of the FIFA Code of Ethics. Since 2012, it has been divided into two separate chambers – the investigatory chamber and the adjudicatory chamber.
Meanwhile, the FIFA’s 211 member associations assembled on Thursday in Manama, Bahrain for the 67th FIFA Congress. The organisation’s supreme body made a few important decisions to validate reports on FIFA’s activities in 2016 and, more importantly, to agree on key steps for the future of the organisation.
This included among others the ratification of the next stages of the bidding process to select the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup™.
Following the approval of the bidding requirements by the FIFA Council on 9 May, the FIFA Congress agreed, with 93% of the valid votes, on a three-month period – until 11 August 2017 – for member associations from CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC to express their interest in hosting the tournament. The decision on whether to select any of the bidders as the host(s) of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be taken by the 68th FIFA Congress, which will convene in Moscow on 13 June next year, on the eve of the opening match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup™.
Ethics Committee – investigatory chamber Chairwoman: María Claudia Rojas (Colombia) Former President of the Council of State Deputy chairman: Bruno de Vita (Canada) Queen’s Counsel Deputy chairman: Martin Ngoga (Rwanda) Former Prosecutor General Members: Asia: He Jiahong (China), Africa: Janet Katisya (Kenya), Europe: Michael Llamas (Gibraltar), North, Central America and Caribbean: José Ernesto Mejía (Honduras) and Oceania: John Tougon (Vanuatu)
Rwanda’s Para Taekwondo player Jean Claude Niringiyimana was on Tuesday announced by International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as the Allianz Athlete of the Month for April.
This is the first time ever for a Rwandan athlete to reach that level in Para-Taekwondo. It follows the 24-year-old’s stunning performance at last month’s second edition of Africa-Para Taekwondo Open that was hosted in Kigali.
At his first ever international competition, Niringiyimana took silver medal in the Men’s under 61kg K44 – He overcame Lesotho’s Phoofolo Mokhethi in a tight 7-6 duel on his way to the final, only falling to Spain’s No. 3 ranked Aythami Santana. Niringiyimana entered May’s world ranking tied for 13th.
The Bugesera-born player received 76 per cent of the public votes. Canadian Para Ice Hockey player Adam Dixon was second with 17 per cent. Swiss Wheelchair racer Manuela Schar, Australian Para Table Tennis player Melissa Tapper and US Para Ice Hockey player Declan Farmer, were also nominated.
“I am speechless and very excited, I want to thank my masters for helping me reach this level. I believe this is a big motivation not only for me but the whole team that we are capable of achieving a lot in this sport,” said Niringiyimana in an interview with Times Sport.
On top of this award, Niringiyimana has been given a wildcard by World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) to compete at this year’s third edition of Asian Para Taekwondo Open slated for July 1, in Chuncheon, South Korea.
He noted that, “I believe this will be a great opportunity for me to show case my skills, what I exhibited here in Kigali is just a small piece, and now I’ve got the chance to compete at one of the biggest stages.”
Competing for the first in the continent’s biggest competition of martial artists with physical disabilities and impairments, Rwanda put on a good fight claiming a total of six medals in different categories hence finishing as the best team overall.
The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. THOMAS BACH appointed Ms. RWEMALIKA FELICITE, the winner of IOC Women and Sports Award for Africa 2016 as new member of Sport and Active Society Commission.
In few weeks ago, Ms. RWEMALIKA FELICITE has been also elected as the First Second Vice President of the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee.
The Sport and Active Society Commission (formerly the Sport for All Commission) advises the IOC Session, the IOC Executive Board and the IOC President on all the activities of the Olympic Movement that are related to using sport to improve physical activity in the population, giving access to sport as a right for all, and on engaging in sports activities with a special focus on youth.
Olympic Agenda 2020 reflects the fact that sport is more important in society than ever, and increasing activity and engagement in sport in society should be a key goal of governments and non-governmental agencies throughout the world.
The responsibilities of the Sport and Active Society Commission are to:
Give input on relevant activities related to the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 specifically related to promoting an active life style in society, with a focus on youth;
Engaging society in sport and work with various parties to build on the sport legacy of the Olympic Games and major events to get the wider community active;
Facilitate synergies among various organisations, which work to increase the accessibility of sport as a right for all.
The changes to the function and composition of the commissions, which are effected by the IOC President working closely with the IOC Executive Board, also include increases in the number of members from America, Africa and Asia, thus guaranteeing a more global and diverse continental representation.
“These changes are aligned with the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020 and show that a stronger participation of women and a more diversified continental representation are our top priorities,” said IOC President Bach.
“The diversity of members guarantees interesting and more inclusive discussions and reflects the Olympic Movement’s commitment to universality,” he added.
The review of the scope and composition of the IOC commissions was one of the 40 recommendations of Olympic Agenda 2020, which was approved by the 127th IOC Session in December 2014 in Monaco.
Rwandan Athlete / Photo by Rwanda Weightlifting Federation.
The International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) has officially recognised the Rwanda Weightlifting Federation as its provisional member.
The President of Rwanda Weightlifting Federation, Mr. Gustave BARIHE.
The decision to affiliate the Rwanda Weightlifting Federation was announced by International Weightlifting Federation earlier in its Executive Board meeting held on 02 April 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand. For the affiliation letter click here.
The Rwanda Weightlifting Federation became the provisional member of International Weightlifting Federation after being officially accepted by the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee as one of its new member in Annual General Assembly took place at Belvedere Hotel in Rubavu district on 11 February 2017.
Weightlifting is an athletic discipline in the modern Olympic programme in which the athlete attempts a maximum-weight single lift of a barbell loaded with weight plates.
