President Paul Kagame has expressed his optimism about Rwanda’s recent bid to host the prestigious Formula One Grand Prix.

Kagame officially announced Rwanda's bid for the Grand Prix while addressing the annual Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) General Assembly in Kigali in December 2024.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, January 8, Kagame said the bid is making good progress, revealing that the country has also submitted a bid to host Moto GP.

"We did the bidding; it is making good progress, and we are also in discussions with Moto GP,” he said.

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The benefits

Rwanda in December hosted the FIA General Assembly and FIFA 2024 Awards, attracting over 800 delegates in the motorsport across the globe.

Kagame highlighted the benefits of hosting the event which took place in Africa for the first time, saying that it is an addition to the good things that the country has achieved from sports partnerships that are already in place.

"You are also aware that this year we are going to host the world cycling championship here in Rwanda," he said.

All these things are happening according to plan and having thought through all this. The benefits to the country, to businesses and people of this country and Africa are enormous and that is why we made this choice,” he said.

Giving examples of tourism partnerships that are already in place with Bayern Munich and Arsenal as well as Paris Saint-Germain, Kagame noted that the results have spoken for themselves in terms of opening the country up for business, tourism, as well as education with the establishment of universities like Carnegie Melon on Rwandan soil.

"So far, generally, I don't know any of these endeavours that we have undertaken that have led the government to regret that we have done this and that and, with time, the benefits become more tangible,” he noted.