Group photo of Students displaying the theme for the 2018 Commonwealth Day.
Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association (Rwanda-CGA) celebrated this year’s Commonwealth Day in a ceremony held at College Saint Andre in Nyamirambo on Wednesday, March 14.
Commonwealth day is celebrated every year on the second Monday in March, but in Rwanda, it was celebrated March 14 due to the local reasons.
The theme of this year 2018 is Towards a Common Future. Education and Sports were two tools used to promote the commonwealth values on this special day. On side of education, the objectives was to promote commonwealth in education, discuss and introduce the theme of the year 2018 to students through dialogues, whereas the sport activities like basketball, athletics (100m) and football for both girls and boys targeted to promote a culture of fair play in the youth, collaboration, building a stronger team work in the youth, winning spirit and sharing .
Student speaking during dialogues.Girls Basketball Team of College Saint Andre.Boys Basketball Team – College Saint Andre.
It was an event attended by First Vice President, Madam Felicite RWEMALIKA on behalf of Rwanda Commonwealth Games association.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary Association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under the age of 30.
The Commonwealth includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-one of its precautions are small states, many of them island nations.
Its’ Vision is to help create and sustain a Commonwealth that is mutually respectful, resilient, peaceful and prosperous and that cherishes equality, diversity and shared values.
The occasion was attended mostly by student of College Saint Andre, who competed in various games including basketball, football and athletics (100m) for both boys and girls.
The Vice President of Rwanda-CGA, Madam Rwemarika throwing a Jump-Ball during Commonwealth Day 2018 celebrations at College Saint Andre.
While addressing the gathering, Rwanda-CGA vice president, Felicite Rwemarika, said that, “This event is a partnership with the Commonwealth family and the objective is to work together. It is important for the youth because sports create relationship and mutual friendship with others.”
The Vice President, Rwemalika during interview.
“The Commonwealth brings opportunities and hope to the Youth and uniting the family thus we choose to collaborate with students” Rwemalika added.
Rwanda Team (Cycling, Beach Volleyball, Athletics and Para Power Lifting) that will represent Rwanda in Commonwealth Games 2018.
RWANDA Commonwealth Games Association (RWANDA-CGA) has unveiled the delegation to represent the country at the forthcoming XXI Commonwealth Games scheduled for April 4-15 in Gold Coast, Queensland – Australia.
A total of 17 athletes from four different sporting disciplines will carry the country’s quest for a historic first Commonwealth Games medal. Rwanda will have representatives in cycling, athletics, beach volleyball and Para-Powerlifting.
The 21st edition of Commonwealth Games will attract over 6600 athletes representing 70 countries and territories in 18 sports and 270 medal events.
Rwanda made her debut in the quadrennial event eight years ago in New Delhi, India, and her second appearance in 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.
However, no Rwandan athlete was able to manage a podium finish at either edition.
Cycling
The cycling team that will represent the country in Commonwealth Games next month.
Africa’s top-rated Joseph Areruya will lead Team Rwanda Cycling in Australia, looking to take his impressive cycling talent to global scene after conquering the continent in the past five months.
The 21-year-old rider claimed Tour du Rwanda 2017 last November and the 2018 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in January.
After the magical performance in Gabon where he became the first Rwandan and only third African cyclist to win Africa’s most respected cycling event, Areruya added on the inaugural UCI Tour de l’Espoir in Yaoundé, Cameroon early February.
The Dimension Data for Qhubeka rider went on to win four medals, two gold, one silver and one bronze medal at the recently-concluded African Continental Road Championship held from February 13-18 in Kigali.
Making his debut at the international multidiscipline games, cycling sensation Areruya will be on a team of six.
Other big names on the team include; two-time Tour du Rwanda champion Valens Ndayisenga and Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Didier Munyaneza, Jean Paul Rene Ukiniwabo and Jean Claude Uwizeyimana.
For the first time, Rwanda will also field female riders at the two-week long competitions, among them, reigning national champion Beatha Ingabire as well as Magnifique Manizabayo.
Apart from Ndayisenga and Uwizeyimana, the rest of the cyclists on the team will be making their maiden appearance in Commonwealth Games.
At the 2014 edition, Rwanda fielded six riders in men’s category in Glasgow. Former national team captain Janvier Hadi and Valens Ndayisenga competed in Individual Time Trial (ITT) and finished 19th and 23rd respectively.
They were also joined by Adrien Niyonshuti, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana, Gasore Hategeka and Jean Bosco Nsengimana but none of the six riders managed to finish the race that was won by Wales’ Thomas Geraith.
Athletics
The Athletics team that will represent the country in Commonwealth Games next month.
In athletics, Rwanda will be represented by six track and field athletes led by 20-year- old star Salome Nyirarukundo, who will compete in the women’s 10,000m.
Others include; Alexis Nizeyimana (full marathon), Christopher Tuyishime and James Sugira (men’s 5000m), Beatha Nishimwe (1500m) as well as Alice Ishimwe, who will race in the women’s 800m.
Nyirarukundo represented Rwanda at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in Brazil where she finished 27th out of 37 competitors in women’s 10,000 metres clocking 32: 7:80.
Her personal best in 10,000 metres is 31:45:82, which she recorded at the 2016 Olympic Games qualifiers in Durban, South Africa.
Fresh from winning a bronze medal at this year’s Barcelona Half-marathon, Nyirarukundo is set to link up with the rest of the team this month after his training stint in Eldoret – Kenya.
Beach Volleyball
The Beach Volleyball team that will represent the country in Commonwealth Games next month.
The reigning African champions Charlotte Nzayisenga and Denise Mutatsimpundu will not only represent Rwanda but also have the entire Africa on their shoulders in the women’s beach volleyball category.
The pair booked their ticket to the finals of the XXI Commonwealth Games, in October last year, after beating Nigeria in the final of African Championships held in Sierra Leone.
Rwanda has been drawn in Group C alongside favourites New Zealand, Singapore and Vanuata. Group A comprises of hosts Australia, Scotland, Grenada and Cyprus while Group B is made of giants Canada, England, Trinidad and Tobago as well as Fiji.
Christophe Mudahinyuka’s team will have to finish in the group’s top two to secure a spot in knock-out stages.
Since February 12, Nzayisenga and Mutatsimpundu have been training at Amahoro national stadium and they were supposed to start residential camp in Rubavu on Saturday.
Para-Power lifting
Mr. Vedaste Niyonzimana will represent Rwanda in Para Power-Lifting.
After the 2014 debut in powerlifting where Theogene Hakizimana was the flag bearer, Rwanda has again been offered one wild card in Para-powerlifting and this time, it will be Vedaste Niyonzimana who will carry the flag.
For Its first appearance to the Commonwealth Youth Games Rwanda won the first match in Beach Volleyball against Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 and in Tennis, HABIYAREMYE Ernest beat Emmanuel Plange from Ghana who is ranked number 8 in the Commonwealth Youth Games and 1195 on World ranking 2-0 (7-6; 6-4).
On second day, the The beach volleyball pair of girls, namely Penelope Musabyimana and Valentine Munezero lost their second match against the New Zealand 0-2 (10-21; 19-21).
As HABIYAREMYE Ernest the 1495th on World ranking continues his journey for qualification, the girls have just made Rwanda proud by qualifying to the Commonwealth Youth Games quarter finals in History. They smashed the Saint Lucia Team a straight forward game of 2-0 (21-15; 21-9).
The Commonwealth Youth Games are held every four years with age limitations for athletes of 14 up to 18. This year, the games are taking place in Bahamas from 19th to 23th July 2017.
Rwanda is being represented in Beach Vollyeball and Tennis.
From left: Mukundiyukuri Jean de Dieu (Chef de Mission) , Ernest Habiyaremye (Tennis Player) with his coach Sylvain Rutikanga.
Mr. Bayigamba Robert, The President of both Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association (RCGA) and Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC).
The Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association President Mr Robert Bayigamba is attending the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly, which is being held in Edmonton, Canada. This General Assembly is from the 05th October 2016.
This General Assembly is bringing together the sport leaders from 71 commonwealth countries.
There will be discussions and dealing with some big issues like human rights in sports, address such big issues as Equality and reconciliation and all types of subjects not just relevant to Commonwealth but to many communities around the world.
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) will have a small delegation attending this CGF General Assembly.
The members of that team attending are:
Peter Beatie : Chairman
Mark Peter: Chief Executive officer
Adam Best: International Sector Manager; Queen’s Baton Relay
Greg Tighe: Manager, Protocol
Melissa price: Manager, CGA Relations and Operations
Representatives from the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast will be attending and eager to meet the CGA to see how they can assist our CGAs most female health with any pre-games training or staging camp activities.
