Kajuga qualifies for Olympic Games

Long distance runner Robert Kajuga has become the second Rwandan to qualify for the London 2012 Olympics Games in athletics.The 27-year old finished 5th in the 10000m race on Friday at the ongoing African Senior Athletics championship in Porto-Nova, Benin.Kajuga, who also runs in the half marathon, used 28 minutes and 3 seconds, 5 seconds better than the minimum qualification required time for the Olympic Games.He now joins Jean Pierre Mvuyekure, who also attained the minimum qualification to take part in the London Games slated for later this month.Claudette Mukasakundi and Cyriaque Ndayikengurukiye will run in the 10.000 and 5000m respectively today.Rwanda National Olympics Committee needs an estimated Rwf214.4m for preparations and participation in the Games that run from July 27 to August 12.Serge Mwambali, the Chef de Mission recently told this paper that Rwf 64.8m was set aside for preparation, while Rwf149.6m will be the participation costs for national teams.Rwanda is expected to send a 50-man contingent consisting of 25 Olympic delegation and a 25 strong man Paralympics team. The Paralympics commence on August 29 to September 9 in London.In Paralympics, sitting volleyball team will be made up of 12 players and two officials, two athletes, accompanied by one official and one athlete in power lifting with one official as well as officials from NPC and Olympic committee to complete a 25-man delegation.The budget that has been drafted will cater for airfare, uniforms, equipment, allowances, medical and communication costs, insurance, costumes, video footages and national flags.Mwambali revealed that the local Olympics committee received Olympic grants worth Rwf111m from the International Olympic Solidarity and London Games organizers for pre-games training camp for Olympics and Paralympics teams.