The 2021 edition of the annual Kigali International Peace Marathon is scheduled for June 20, Rwanda athletics federation (RAF) has announced.

The development was confirmed to Times Sport by Fidele Mubiligi, the RAF president.

"In collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, we have confirmed June 20 as the date for the Kigali International Peace Marathon," he said.

"Now the only thing left is to see how our athletes start preparing early so that we can get good results," he added.

Last year's edition was ">cancelled due to Covid-19, just like many other sports events that suffered suspension or cancelation as the country looked to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Kigali Peace Marathon was launched in 2004 as an amateur race aimed at using sports in the healing and reconciliation process in the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The event has grown to become one of the most respected annual athletics events in the region and on the continent; and it is one of Rwanda’s most popular sporting events held every year along with the famous Tour du Rwanda.

In the previous edition (2019), local athletics star Marthe Yankurije struck silver in women’s half marathon, while other podium slots – in both full and half marathons – were dominated by Kenya and Uganda.