Rwanda's journey to the Olympic Games has been marked by consistent participation but limited success in terms of medal achievements. As the country prepares for the Paris 2024 Games, there are critical aspects that need consideration to enhance future participation and competitiveness. Historically, Rwanda has sent small contingents to the Olympics compared to neighboring countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, or further afield, China, United States and Russia, which qualify larger numbers across multiple sports. Eight athletes will represent Rwanda at the 2024 Olympics that will take place from July 26 to August 11. They include two in athletics, three cyclists, two swimmers and one Fencer. According to the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC), the athletes will travel for Paris three weeks before the Games start. The athletes confirmed include Yves Nimubona and Clementine Mukandanga who will compete in the men and women’s marathons respectively. Others are Eric Manizabayo (men’s road race), Diane Ingabire and Jazilla Mwamikazi (women’s road race), swimmers Oscar Peyre Mitilla Cyusa (men) and Lidwine Uwase Muhoza (women) as well as Tufaha Uwihoreye (men's Fencing). Rwanda's total of eight athletes will be their 2nd highest for the Olympics. The biggest number for Rwanda was 10 athletes at Barcelona 1992. However, what is worrying is the fact that, out of the eight, only Mukandanga qualified directly, while the rest will be in Paris on wildcard entries. This has been the case for long. Rwanda will be making a 10th consecutive appearance at the Summer Games but still waiting for a first medal of any kind. Taking a small number of athletes to the Games limits any team, not just Rwanda, the chance(s) of winning medals. Countries that normally dominate Olympic Games, like China, USA, Russia and others, qualify hundreds of athletes and in almost every sport, giving them a competitive advantage. From the outside, come questions like, when will Rwanda start giving qualifying for Olympics the attention it deserves? Are the federations under the Rwanda National Olympics and Sports Committee sleeping on their jobs? Do they have the right people in the right positions and performing the right responsibilities/tasks? When will Rwanda stop relying on wildcards for Olympics participation? It is high time we started to work and prepare our athletes better in order to give them the best possible chance(s) to earn direct qualifications. Reliance on wildcard entries: Majority of Rwandan athletes participate in Olympic Games through wildcard entries rather than direct qualification. This reduces competitive exposure and the likelihood of medal contention. Over the previous nine Olympics, certain sports, such as athletics and cycling, have seen representation, but broader participation across a wider range of disciplines is lacking. Despite consistent appearances, Rwanda is yet to win an Olympic medal, highlighting the need for a more robust development pathway and strategic planning. ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: Hakizimana out to end Rwanda’s Olympic medal jinx ALSO READ: Tokyo 2020: Will Rwanda finally win an Olympic medal? Lest we forget, athletes receive wildcards because they have failed direct qualification, and normally these invitations are extended to third-world athletes/countries. For all the intent and purpose, wildcards are not a good thing, for, their major purpose is to encourage participation rather than winning. That is why there is need to enhance Rwanda's chances of increasing its Olympic athlete count and improving competitiveness. Government must strengthen the National Olympics body to better support federations in identifying talent, providing training facilities, and organizing qualifying events. Under a vibrant and functional national Olympics body, you would automatically expect more investment in qualified coaches and technical staff across various sports to improve training quality and athlete development. Athlete development will entail initiating grassroots programs in schools and communities to identify and nurture young talent, providing a pipeline for future Olympians. Strategic planning for qualification: Implementing structured, long-term plans for athlete development that focus on achieving direct qualifications rather than relying on wildcards. People in charge must be reminded to do regular assessment of athlete progress and performance benchmarks to ensure they (athletes) are on track to meet Olympic qualification standards. Facilitating participation in international competitions and training camps to expose athletes to higher levels of competition and improve their skills. We must also look at the possibility of exploring lesser-known sports where Rwanda may have a competitive advantage or where qualifying standards are more attainable. Of course, this requires funding, which means government allocating resources and support for emerging sports to diversify Rwanda's Olympic participation beyond traditional disciplines. Stakeholders must ensure government policies prioritize sports development and provide adequate funding and infrastructure for training facilities. But first, the people responsible must stop or be stopped from sleeping on the job, get their hands dirty, learn some of the best practices elsewhere. With goodwill by/from all stakeholders, Rwanda has almost everything it takes to detect, nurture, develop and prepare more future Olympians.
