Rwanda Commonwealth Association has said that everything is in place for a ‘successful’ event as the country hosts the 2019 general assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), starting today in Kigali.

The five-day gathering, which runs through September 5 at the Kigali Convention Centre, has attracted about 250 delegates – mostly sports leaders – from 71 countries.

The occasion marks the ten-year anniversary since Rwanda joined the Commonwealth nations in 2009, and a year before hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2020.

Speaking to Sunday Sport, president of Rwanda Commonwealth Games Association, Valens Munyabagisha, said that guests will among other places visit the recently inaugurated Kigali Arena.

He said: "The guests will visit Kigali Arena, and be able to see how the country is developing sports infrastructure.

This is a precious opportunity for us because these officials are among decision-makers in choosing countries that host the Commonwealth games. So in the future when we bid to host these games, they will be good witnesses of what is on the ground.”

Among other guests, the event will be attended by the Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Patricia Janet Scotland, and Commonwealth Games Federation President, Louise Martin CBE, who both arrived in the country on Saturday.

Munyabagisha added that this meeting will raise more awareness of Rwandans – and particularly, sportsmen and women – about the Commonwealth Games.

Rwanda made her Commonwealth Games debut during the 2010 edition in New Delhi, India.  The country was also represented at the Glasgow 2014 (Scotland) Games and most recently, at the 2018 edition in Australia.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com