Christian Blind Mission (CBM) international has granted the National Paralympics Committee (NPC) $10000 (Frw5.4m) to cover the third edition of the international Paralympics day tournament.

The money is to cater for the entire tournament scheduled for December 3 at the Paralympics Gymnasium at Amahoro Stadium.

Charles B. Tabasusa, CBM-International Human Resource and Program Administrator, said that the grant is the first of its kind for the tournament but that it they shall continue sponsoring the event annually.

"We felt that it’s okay to sponsor the December event because it is an international Paralympics day commemoration tournament.

And above all we are obliged to developing disabled individuals,” said Tabasusa.

CBM-international operates all over the country since 1997 under Christian Blind Rwanda (CBR- Inkurunziza) to rehabilitate the lives of physically disabled and mentally retarded people.

The organization provides Wheel Chairs; treats chronic rickets in children and makes special seating chairs for young disabled people among others.

NPC National Technical Director, Erie Manirarora, appreciated CBM for the sponsorship and thanked them for their continuous help.

"We are very happy because the sponsorship is for the international day commemoration tournament. And above all we are happy that CBM is emphasizing to annually sponsor it,” said Manirarora noting that they have to wait for a contract to put the event on their calendar.

Manirarora said that had it not been for the CBM sponsorship the event would have been dropped because the NPC was financially incapable of holding the tournament.

He said that now that the money is available, the teams will train very hard to win the tournament.

The event has also attracted international volunteers one of which is Carolyn Mueller from Germany who will help in administration and event coverage.

The tournament will include Female Seatball, Goalball on the male side, and Wheelchair Rugby matches.

In Seatball, Intwari, THT, Gorillas, and Imena will compete while Blind players from Gahini, Rwamagana, ACPJNV and Masaka play Goalball; and Kanombe, Intwari, THT and Imena compete in Wheel Chair Rugby.

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