RNOSC joined Gasore Serge Foundation to celebrate the Olympic Day 2022

On June 23, 2022, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee joined 500 students from Rwanda Children Christian School founded/Gasore Serge Foundation in Bugesera district to celebrate the Olympic Day 2022.

The Olympic Day 2022 was celebrated at Rwanda Children Christian School/Gasore Serge Foundation in Bugesera district.

2022’s theme celebrates the power of sport to bring people together in peace: a call to action for people to move together, up to and during Olympic Day, to show their united support for a peaceful world.

On the occasion of the Olympic Day 2022 celebrations, children discovered new sports such as Olympic Day Run, Kids Athletics, 3×3 Basketball, Karate, Aerobics and Traditional Games, performed by a group of elderly people with the aim of passing on their knowledge to new generations.

Olympic Day Run
Kids Athletics
Children playing Basketball 3×3
Children performing karate
Rwandan Traditional Dance

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, in collaboration with Rwanda Basketball Federation, Rwanda Football Federation and CAVB Zone 5, donated sports equipment to Rwanda Children Christian School/Gasore Serge Foundation to support young talents.

A team representing the Rwandan Olympians also participated in the Olympic Day 2022 celebrations to inspire the youngsters.

“We are happy to work together with RNOSC to celebrate the Olympic Day this year. It is a great opportunity for our children to know and participate in some sports disciplines that they were not used to, for example Basketball 3X3 and traditional games. Through these sports, they can learn some Olympic values that can assist them to become good sports personalities, and good students,” said Serge Gasore, the founder of the Gasore Serge Foundation.

Gasore Serge, the founder of Gasore Serge Foundation

Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira, a three-time Olympian who is an advisor at the RNOSC spoke about the importance of the Olympic Day celebrations.

“Every year, we celebrate this day with youngsters, especially students from lower schools, so that we can help them grow up doing and loving sports. We teach them Olympic values and how they can apply them in their daily lives. We also bring them their older counterparts who managed to participate in Olympic Games so they can play together and inspire them on this important day. It helps them grow up knowing the meaning of the Olympics, and having the desire to participate in them.”

Pamela Girimbabazi Rugabira, OLY, a three-time Olympian who is also the RNOSC Advisor

Also, during the Olympic Week, the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee joined the Kids International Play on June 19, 2022, to celebrate the Olympic Day in Nyanza district and around 300 children participated.

More photos of the Olympic Day 2022 celebrations, visit this link.

38 participants including 33 women attended the “Smart Women – Smart Sport”, organized by the RNOSC

The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), in collaboration with the RNOSC Women in Sport Commission, hosted a workshop titled “Smart Women – Smart Sport” under the Auspices of the Olympic Solidarity. The 2-day event under the theme “Women and Sport”, held at Centre d’Acceuil Bonne Espérance in Kigali city from 19-20 May 2022.

The event aimed at empowering and providing capacity building to its members by addressing various challenges the Rwanda Sport Movement is facing while promoting the Olympic values and gender equality in particular and this was emphasized by the Second Vice President at the RNOSC Mrs. Salama Umutoni in her opening remarks.

“This workshop aims at discussing the challenges women face in sports sector. There are also experts who will share their expertise and I encourage women to talk about the issues they face and work together to find solutions and a better way forward,” she said.

The Second Vice President at the RNOSC Mrs. Salama Umutoni giving her opening remarks.

A total of 38 participants including 33 women from National Sports Federations, Rwanda Olympians Association and Sports Centers of Excellence in Schools (ISONGA Programme) took part.

During these two days, the participants benefited from the following presentations:

  • “Prevention of Harassment and Abuse in Sports (sexual, verbal & emotional abuse) and Mental Health.” by First Vice President at Rwanda Cycling Federation Mrs. Mukazibera Marie Agnes
  • “Talent Detection” by the Technical Director at Rwanda Volleyball Federation Mrs. Gertrude Kubwimana
  • “Sports Nutrition” by Nutritionist/MD “La Pervenche Nutrition Cabinet” Mrs. Mukayumba Anastasie
  • “Menstruation and Athlete’s Performance” by Sports Expert Mrs. E’GAIRMA Hermine
  • “Sports Medicine” by RNOSC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission Dr. Nuhu Assuman and the Vice President of the RNOSC Sport For All Commission Mrs. Murangwa Usenga Sandrine
  • “Sports and Mental Health” by the Director General of Huye Isange Rehabilitation Center Dr. Patrick RWAGATARE
  • “Women in Coaching” by Head Coach REG Women BBC Mukaneza Espérance
  • “Refereeing” by FIFA Referee Murangwa Usenga Sandrine
  • “Sports Journalism” by Sports Journalist and President of the RNOSC Women in Sport Commission Ariane Uwamahoro

Igihozo Yvette who participated in the wokrshop shared her key takeaway: “We learned how to avoid violence against a sportswoman, how to nourish our bodies as sportswomen, we were given insightful information about women’s periods and we also had  an opportunity to hear testimonies of women in sports industry.”

Igihozo Yvette, one of participants of the “Smart Women – Smart Sport” workshop.

The Technical Director at Rwanda Volleyball Federation Mrs. Gertrude Kubwimana who was among the speakers: “We received positive feedback from invitated participants to this event, including athletes, coaches, referees or others involved in sports management. They were happy and eager for more knowledge.”

In her closing remarks, the IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA urged her fellow women to remain focused and take a leaf from a few who have excelled if they are to succeed in various sports disciplines.

“Firstly, we encourage women to believe in themselves, secondly, to improve their personal development skills and their contribution to the development of sport. You do not have to think that opportunities will come to you just because you are a woman but because you deserve it,” Rwemarika said.

“We were able to hear from them, their challenges and what they want to be done. We are going to present them to competent authorities to find solutions for them toward creating a better environment for women in sports,” she added.

IOC Member Mrs. Félicité RWEMARIKA addressing the participants at the closing ceremony.

The workshop was concluded with certificate award ceremony and group photos.

Group photo after the certificate award ceremony.

More photos of the workshop, click here.