The story of 2020 as a year of hardship and difficulty continues to be told by many; in Rwanda and across the world.

Sports suffered multiple blows due to cancellations, suspensions and postponements of competitions among other challenges owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, despite the prevailing pandemic and a completely frozen line-up of competitions, the local Special Olympics body – the federation for sports of persons with intellectual disabilities – registered some notable positives.

In this issue, Weekend Sport looks back at some of the events that marked 2020 in sports for persons with intellectual disabilities, in Rwanda.

Rwanda secures $650,000 grant

Rwanda was in August chosen as the only sub-Sahara African country and one of the only two African nations, along with Egypt, to receive a grant worth USD650,000 (about Rwf618 million) for the implementation of the Unified Champion Schools (UCS) programme.

The grant – to six countries globally – was disbursed by Special Olympics International courtesy of a USD25 million support from the Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Other recipient countries included Argentina, India, Pakistan and Romania.

The UCS programme, according to Deus Sangwa – the Chairman of Special Olympics Rwanda, seeks to promote social inclusion of students with and without intellectual disabilities in schools, through inclusive sports activities.

The grant will be used in 400 schools, among which 40 are from the City of Kigali, 70 from the Eastern Province, 120 from the Northern Province and Western Province, and 170 from the Southern Province.

Rwanda endorsed to host 2020 Pan-African Games

Rwanda is set host the 2nd Special Olympics Pan African Games in 2022 after winning the hosting rights earlier last year.

Rwanda’s bid to host the games was endorsed at the inaugural Special Olympics Pan African Games in Cairo, Egypt, in February 2019.

Over 1,000 participants from 42 African countries took part in the Cairo Pan African Games.

Domestic season voided

The 2020 edition of the annual national special Olympics championships was due in August but it was declared null and void because of the pandemic.

Several other competitions on the line-up; in schools and, at community and regional levels, were also cancelled.

Kigali Unified Car-Free Day

For the very first time, athletes with intellectual disabilities participated in the bi-monthly Car Free Day public exercises in a campaign that sought to promote inclusivity.

The car-free day was launched in 2016 to encourage fitness and healthy lifestyles.

During the mass exercises, many roads across the capital are closed for vehicles to allow Kigali residents to engage in different sports such as jogging, cycling and skating.

It is understood that Special Olympics Rwanda and the Ministry of Education are collaborating on a project to establish a game for mentally and physically handicapped persons, and the sport could be launched this year.