As we mark our 30th anniversary, we would like to welcome you to our new look website.
It is very exciting to have made it through three decades of promoting the Olympic Movement in Rwanda and we are looking forward to a successful future.
From our first participation at the 1984 in Los Angeles, California, United States of America to London 2012, we have attended all the eight adhd in children of the prestigious Summer Olympics.
We are yet to win an Olympic medal, however, we are working on it every day that passes.
Rwanda won a bronze medal at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece after Jean de Dieu Nkundareba clocked 1:58.95 in the men’s 800m T46 category.
On July 24, 2013, Hermas Cliff Muvunyi became the first Rwanda to win a gold medal at the IPC World Championships in Lyon, France after clocking a personal best 1:54.06 in the men’s 800m T46 category.
It is on the basis of these achievements, therefore that we want to build for more success in the future.
Rwanda will send the highest percentage by ratio of female athletes as compared to their male counterparts at the second edition of the African Youth Games that will be buy azithromycin in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana from May 22-31, 2014.
A total of 49 athletes, 29 female and 20 male will compete at the continental games in 12 sports disciplines including athletics, basketball (3 on 3), boxing, cycling, fencing, golf, karate, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
Here is the quota indicating the female athletes in each sport; athletics (4), basketball-3on 3 (4), cycling (2), karate-kumite (2), swimming (1), table tennis (1), taekwondo (2), lawn tennis (1), volleyball (12).
The head of the women and sport commission at the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee, Felicite Rwemalika said, “This is going to boost their moral and self confidence and change their young they will grow up and can make it, change of mindest. This is the time to show the strength of a woman.
In line with our vision ‘Generations of Champions’, it is this same foundation that will prepare the youth to compete at continental and global levels in preparation for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
Rwanda will participate in the second edition of the African Youth Games that will be held in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana from May 22-31, 2014.
A total of 49 athletes, 30 female and 19 male will compete at the continental games in 12 sports disciplines including athletics, basketball (3 on 3), boxing, cycling, fencing, golf, karate, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
This is the first time that Rwanda will take part in the youth games which have set a platform for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) that will be held in Nanjing, China.
The Gaborone event is a qualifying platform for athletics and swimming to YOG.
The head of delegation, second vice president Elie Manirarora said, “We need medals. This is also the way forward towards the Rio Olympics in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020. This is how we are going to raise ‘Generations of Champions’.”
In line with our vision ‘Generations of Champions’, it is this same foundation that will prepare the youth to compete at continental and global levels in preparation for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.
Rwanda has qualified for both the men and women’s beach volleyball events at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games to be held from August 16-28 in Nanjing, China.
The girls’ side comprised of Seraphine Mukantambara and Lea Uwimbabazi has emerged African champions automatically qualifying for the second edition of the biggest youth sports event in the world.
The pair defeated Mauritius 2-1 (21-18, 21-13) and lost to Namibia 2-0 (23-21) in the group stages before seeing off the hosts Ghana 2-0 (21-9, 21-14) in the semi-final to qualify for the final. Rwanda defeated Namibia 2-0 to be crowned African champions.
In the boys’ category, Rwanda defeated Congo Brazaville 2-1 (21-10, 16-21, 15-12) before losing to Nigeria 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 14-16) in the group stages. Rwanda saw off Namibia 2-0 (21-18, 21-9) before beating Sierra Leone 2-0 (21-12, 21-9).
Ranked fourth in Group B, Rwanda played against third placed Egypt from Group A and emerged winners after shocking the North Africans 2-1 to finish sixth on the African continent and also booked a place to Nanjing.
Head coach Paul Bitok said, “This is the only way to go. We came here to qualify but eventually the girls became champions. We have to keep participating in youth events and then we shall have a future for sports in Rwanda.”
This is the first time that Rwanda has qualified for the Youth Olympic Games, however, at the first edition of the quadrennial event in Singapore, Rwanda was represented by four athletes in athletics, boxing and swimming.
“This is a great moment for Rwanda and will lay a foundation for us as a country as we look forward to competing at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games,” explained Elie Manirarora, the chef de mission to the Nanjing event.
At this year’s event, Rwanda also has wildcards to participate in athletics, cycling and swimming and beach volleyball makes it four sporting disciplines.
Aaron Taylor Koonce believes visiting Gaborone ahead of the African Youth Games in May 22-31 will give him an advantage
Rwanda’s sole golf representative at the upcoming African Youth Games, Aaron Taylor Koonce has completed a three-day tour of Botswana ahead of the quedrennial event due May 22-31.
The 17 year old Koonce trained for a total of 20 hours at the Gaborone Golf Club during his stay in Gaborone, the host city of the African Youth Games.
The excited and anxious Koonce revealed that, “The course is flatter than the one in Kigali and the greens are faster and some of the holes are longer but it is very playable.”
Koonce who is a handicap 8 enjoyed the 18-hole course that he described as beautiful and positioned at a good location for the tournament and described the trees as being shorter.
He further added that, “If you happen to be in trouble from a bad shot, it is easier to recover. There is only a few water hazards which is less than the Kigali course so that shoudln’t be much of a problem.”
The Grade 11 student at Kigali International Community School reminisces that playing on the course before the tournament will give him a very big advantage ahead of the three-day (May 26-28) tournament because he knows the distances.
He also defined the bunkers as comprising of dense sand which means that, “I have to take a lower lofty club than I am used to, to get out of the bunkers but that shouldn’t be a problem. It is a minor adjustment.
Koonce is hopeful to finish with a medal for Rwanda but he knows that the competition from Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe will be tough as these are the strongest African nations in golf.
Golf is one of the 12 sporting disciplines that will represent Rwanda in Gaborone with the total number of athletes being 49 – 29 female and 20 male competing in athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, karate, lawn tennis, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo and volleyball.
This is the first time that Rwanda will be competing at the continental youth event which will be a qualifying event for athletics, basketball and swimming to the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
Rwanda will compete at the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China
Over 3,600 young athletes aged 15 to 18 from over 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) will be in Nanjing, China, from August 16-28, 2014 to compete in the second edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
This year’s event will feature 28 sports, including golf and rugby sevens, which will make their debut before their inclusion at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Also on the sports programme will be disciplines such as 3-on-3 basketball and 5-a-side hockey, as well as mixed gender and mixed NOC events.
Some new sports and disciplines not currently on the Olympic programme will also be showcased following an IOC Executive Board decision in December 2013. Sport climbing, roller sports and skateboarding will join wushu, which was already planned to feature in Nanjing.
The young participants will have the opportunity to take part in a unique Culture and Education Programme (CEP) off the anxiety of play that will focus on themes ranging from Olympism and the Olympic values to skills development and how to lead healthy lifestyles.
Rwanda expects to send a record 25 athletes to compete at the upcoming Summer Olympics that will be held in the Brazilian capital, Rio de Janeiro from August 5-21, 2016.
The Rwanda National Olympic and Sport Committe (RNOSC) has identified 13 sports disciplines to commence preparations and they include archery, athletics, boxing, cycling, augmentin, football, golf, judo, lawn tennis, shooting, swimming, taekwondo and volleyball.
The National Paralympic Committee will also send athletes to Rio de Janeiro as well.
In total, over 150 athletes will be involved in the qualification process as the focus will narrow down to the goal of 25 athletes with a chance to win medals for Rwanda.
The responsible federations have already laid out strategic planning to participate in several global and continental competitions over the course of time in preparation for the prestigious Olympics.
RNOSC Secretary General Ahmed Habineza said, “Champions are not made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them, a desire, a dream, a vision.”
In line with our program ‘Reach the Podium’, this is an opportunity for the athletes to compete at the highest level and with all the support they need, this is an achievable objective.
The highest number of athletes Rwanda has ever sent to the Olympics is 10 (Barcelona 1992) and at the recent London 2012 Games, Rwanda sent seven athletes.
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.
The vice president at the Rwanda National Olympic Committe, Phophina Gashugi has been appointed as the head of the sport and environment commission at the Association of National Olympic Committees in Africa (ANOCA).
This is the first time a Rwandan is serving in a position on the continental body.
Gashugi said, “I am delighted about this achievement. It is a pleasure to represent Rwanda at this level and I am going to work hard.”
Gashugi will work alongside three other members of the commission Francis K. Paul (Kenya), Omar Diagne Seydina (Senegal) and Sam Gideon (South Africa).
She is the only female on this commission and this motivates her to achieve a lot in everything that she has set out as a target.
Gashugi and her team are currently working on a presentation on sport and environment on the African continent that will be showcased at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.
The sport and environment commission was included in rule 2 of the Olympic Charter in 1995 after recognizing the importance of environment and sustainable development.
Media accreditation for 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing in 2014
ACCREDITATION Accreditation is processed online by the IOC. Media representatives wishing to cover the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games are required to register on the IOC website by 30 April 2014.
Please note that all journalists (regardless of nationality) working for Chinese domestic media must request their accreditation via the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) at the following address:
All other media working for non-Chinese, international media organizations (including in Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei) are requested to register via the IOC website following the instructions provided via the link below.
Please note that all rights-holding broadcasters’ accreditations will be processed by OBS.
Click here to access the media accreditation system
If you have already registered in the IOC media database for previous events, please ensure your profile is up-to-date. You will need to complete your personal information and ensure you have a recent photo with the correct passport details. Please note that passports must be valid until at least 31 December 2014.
For media representatives who have successfully applied for accreditation online before 30 April 2014, the Youth Olympic Accreditation Card (YOAC) together with a passport or other official travel document will serve as an Entry Visa into China. These will be sent to you directly in June 2014 by the Nanjing Organizing Committee. The pre-valid YOAC will act as a valid visa for China for a period of one month prior to and one month following Nanjing 2014.
ACCOMMODATION
Information regarding media accommodation will be available on the official website of Nanjing 2014 until 16 June 2014.
