New pact to develop sitting volleyball in Rwanda

The National Paralympics Committee, through the National Union of Disabilities’ Organizations of Rwanda, has signed a one-year pact with Christian Blind Mission (CBM) International worth Euros69,535 to boost the development of women Sitting Volleyball in Rwanda. CBM International is a Christian development organization, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world. Speaking to Times Sport in an exclusive interview, NPC president Celestin Nzeyimana revealed that the partnership has come after Rwandan women made history at the ParaVolley Africa Sitting Volleyball Championships last year to secure the 2016 Rio sitting volleyball spot. In doing so, Rwanda becomes the first African country to send a women’s team to the Olympic Games. “As a result, the social and economic situation of sitting volleyball (women) players in Rwanda will be strengthened,” Nzeyimana said on Friday. He added that the project will operate in six selected pilot districts namely; Gicumbi, Musanze, Bugesera, Ngoma, Rubavu and Ruhango. Among the main activities that the project will fund include; training of coaches and referees, weekly training sessions in clubs and provision of sitting volleyball equipment that will be provided to women clubs in the six districts. Nzeyimana noted that, “NPC will work closely with the District Paralympics Sports Committees, NCPD Coordinators to ensure good implementation of this project in the respective districts.” “Also, the project will support the women national team with a 10-day training camp and training equipment in preparation for Rio Paralympic Games,” he explained. Rwanda national women sitting volleyball team beat Egypt 3-2 in the gold-medal match in July last year to qualify for Rio Olympic Games. The team will begin preparations next week at NPC Gymnasium. editorial@newtimes.co.rw