Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) has made changes in the technical staff that will be handling the several national teams to the forthcoming Olympic Games set for August 8-24 in Beijing, China.

RNOC’s Chef de Mission Thierry Ntwali told Times Sport yesterday that changes occurred in Swimming, Athletics and Paralympics disciplines.

The local Olympics Committee appointed Innocent Rwabuhihi to handle the athletics team replacing IAAF instructor Adolph Rukenkanya who was fired earlier this year. Richard Lema Ramira will manage the swimming team while Eric Karasira is expected to be in charge of the Paralympics team.

The changes were made effective from Tuesday after an extraordinary meeting held on Monday for the local Beijing Games organizing committee.

Swimmers had spent the past three months under the care of Ngabonziza who was appointed by RNOC to prepare the national squad due to poor administration within the swimming federation.

On the other hand, Rwabuhihi who has been an active member of the athletics federation replaces Rukenkanya who was sacked after the world cross country championship.

Only Swimming, Athletics and Paralympics are the only country’s sports disciplines which will take part in the Beijing games.

In Paralympics, 2004 Athens bronze medalist, Nkundabera qualified for the Beijing Games in 800m during last year’s All Africa Games in Algeria.

In the mainstream athletics, which is Rwanda’s main hope for a medal in Beijing has so far qualified two; Dieudonne Disi (10.000m) and Epiphanie Nyirabarame (women marathon).

While in swimming, Pamela Girimbabazi and one male between Aimable Habimana and Jackson Niyomugabo will lead Rwanda’s hunt for a medal in the August Games.

Girimbabazi is one of the experienced female swimmers in the country after she took part in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.

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