•As Egypt, Mali fail to show up

RWANDA’S team to this year’s Francophone Games touched down in Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday but with the harsh weather, the chef de mission Emmanuel Bugingo is skeptical about the team’s chances of silverware.

"It is very hot out here and I think it’s going to be hard for the team,” Bugingo said. Like all the other teams, Rwanda is staying at Rafiki Hariri University.

Meanwhile, two of the Junior Wasps opponents are yet to arrive. With two days to the kick-off, Mali and Egypt have failed to show up prompting reports that a new schedule could be drafted.

Initially, Rwanda was scheduled to open her campaign with a tricky tie against Mali on September 27, play West African giants Senegal on September 28 before winding up their preliminary campaign with a tough tie against Egypt (September 30).

But reports from the organising committee reveal that a new schedule is going to be drafted later today.

The schedule for both table tennis and athletics remains unchanged and action starts on October 1.

The agenda of the cultural activities gets underway this Sunday at Beirut’s Cite Sportive.

Rwanda’s cultural team leaves for Beirut this afternoon aboard Ethiopian Airways and is expected to land tomorrow morning.

The team includes; (Cultural Competitions)- Richard Karekezi (Painting), Jules Hagumimana (sculpture).

Dance: Wesley Ruzibiza, Gisele Bora Uzima, Viateur Benimana, Eugene Dushime, Natasha Muziramakenga, Samuel Nyabyenda Kwizera, Djuma Sembuga, Abdallah Nsengiyumva, Gakire Ntarugera and Jaribu Rukongi.

Also as part of the games, Lebanon’s UNESCO exhibition will be hosting a series of art and photography exhibitions, in addition to concerts. The results of the culture competitions will be announced between October 2 and 4, 2009.

Ends