Rwanda’s Félicité Rwemarika has promised that she will pitch local sports projects and ideas to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for funding.

Rwemarika, who was elected as IOC member in Buenos Aires, Argentina last month along with four others (two women and two men), says that being a board member of IOC is beneficial and important not only for Rwanda, but also for the African continent.

"It is an advantage for our sports since we have a chance to be heard when it comes to funding our sports initiatives and projects. It also puts us in a good position to win bids to organise and host international events,” she said.

Besides Rwemarika who was elected to the IOC committee, another Rwandan, Aimable Bayingana, was unanimously voted a fortnight ago as the new president of L’Union Francophone de Cyclisme, the cycling body for the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).

While Bayingana serves as president of Rwanda Cycling Federation (Ferwacy), Rwemarika is the first vice president of Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee.

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