Israel Premier Tech proprietor Sylvan Adams says his team decided to invest in Rwandan cycling because both nations suffered the same atrocities in the past.
The Israeli team on Friday inaugurated the Field of Dreams Cycling Centre, Rwanda&039;s first-ever BMX-styled pump track in Bugesera District.
The centre was built out of the funds mobilized under the team’s "Racing for Change" campaign.
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Adams mentioned that Israel and Rwanda are one as both countries have come out of genocide in the last century and as part of their cultural values, they decided to help Rwanda in Cycling.
"Both Israel and Rwanda have something in common. We both suffered genocide in the past century, we are all brothers." Adams said during the Field of Dreams centre.
"We have invested in Rwanda because of Israeli values. In our culture we have to improve the world. We are brothers, we have to work together for our kids to be genuine in cycling."
Adams further indicated that Israel Premier Tech are building a cycling academy at Bugesera as the next phase of their project which will help produce great riders for the country.
" We have completed the first two phases. The next phase will be an Academy like what we have in football. It will house young cycling talents and we will have coaches, instructors, nutritionists and others to help in their development," he explained.
"The Academy will be here in Bugesera but it will be there for riders in Rwanda and beyond."
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Club’s seasoned rider Chris Froome, who has been at the heart of the funds mobilization, was in attendance during the Field of Dreams’ bike centre inauguration.
On his part, the four-time Tour de France winner, who is gracing the 2023 Tour du Rwanda, was at the opening of the project in Bugesera and he commended the initiative as he is optimistic it can go a long way to churn out more professional riders in the sport.
"I think projects like this will go a long way in helping to bring the next generation of professional cyclists to Europe. When I grew up in Kenya, we didn't have anything like this," Froome said.
"So, it's great to see this take shape and I believe in the next decade we're going to see the fruits of this project," he added.
The cost of the whole project including the cycling academy is in excess of 300,000 and Israel Premier Tech are mobilizing funds for it.