Prime Minister hosts FIVB chief

THE International volleyball Federation boss Ary Graça paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Dr. Pierre Damien Habumuremyi yesterday in Kimihurura. Graca who led a delegation of other officials from FIVB and CAVB was also accompanied by the Minister of Sports and Culture Protais Mitali. Dr. Habumuremyi hailed the good working relation between the Rwanda Volleyball federation and the government, adding that volleyball is one of the sports disciplines being supported to advance sports development in the country. The Prime Minister thanked the Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) for granting Rwanda a chance to host the annual continental congress, adding that Rwanda is committed to developing infrastructure of international standards. On his behalf, Dr Graça who fell in love with Rwanda’s beauty praised the level which Rwandan volleyball has reached, adding that the government has done a tremendous role in developing the sport. “In the past two years, we channeled $5m to Africa with an aim of developing the sport and this has been proved by Rwanda managing to excel in terms of developing volleyball. This can be seen in how they have qualified different teams to the World Cup in different age groups,” he said “I also believe that with enough infrastructure, we can try to bring some of the major international tournaments to be played in Rwanda because you deserve them,” added Graça, who was in company of CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani. Meanwhile, the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) Congress closed on Sunday evening in Kigali with national federations showing great solidarity and expectations of a bright future for the sport. CAVB President Dr Amr Elwani closed the last session by thanking the FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça for his great work in assisting Africa during his 14 months at the helm of the international volleyball governing body. “We need all to continue our hard work and keep the passion till we achieve our goals,” Elwani said. “I want to send my sincere gratitude to Dr Ary for his great support to Africa and this was clear with what we are achieving now. We leaped ahead this year and I think we can do more. I want also to thank the 48 attending NFs who have made an all time record of attendance in the history of the Congress.” At the end of Congress sessions, Dr Elwani distributed balls and equipment to all the attending NFs