The Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) and Japan’s University of Tsukuba have penned a Memorandum of Understanding, valid for a three-year period.

The agreement seeks to deepen cooperation between RNOSC and the Japanese university in the areas of exchange programmes and, training of athletes and coaches among others.

Didier Shema Maboko, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports, and the ministry’s Director of Sports, Guy Rurangayire, are alumni of the university.

Weekend Sport understands that the two parties had been in talks since last year before the MoU was finally signed last week.

On behalf of RNOSC, the institution’s president, Valens Munyabagisha, commended the agreement, noting that it is another opportunity to develop science-based sports in Rwanda.

"I am so happy that we have finally agreed to officially collaborate with Tsukuba University through exchange programmes and sharing sports expertise,” said Munyabagisha.

He added: "I believe that this partnership will accelerate and contribute to the implementation of the Rwanda Sports Development Policy, especially the development of sports in schools.”

This publication has also learned that, among other items in the MoU, the two sides have committed to work closely together on future projects such as the establishment of the East Africa Sports Academy.

Separately, on behalf of University of Tsukuba, Dean of the faculty of health and sports sciences, Professor Takeshi Nishiyasu said, "This MoU comes at a most opportune time. Now we are at a stage where we can share our knowledge and expertise not only through our alumni in Rwanda, but also through extended cooperation with RNOSC and its members.”

Rwanda and Japan have healthy and long-standing cooperation in sports. In 2018, another agreement was signed between RNOSC and the Japanese City of Hachimantai to host a training camp for the Rwandan Olympic athletes ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games.