The 20km de Bugesera, one of the most attended annual athletics events in the country, is back this year after taking a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its preventive measures. The 5th edition of the multi-category competition is scheduled for July 3 and will include wheelchair racing for the first time. For the last two years, organisers say, the 20 km de Bugesera could not take place for the safety of participants. At a press briefing over the weekend, Serge Gasore, the race founder and manager, said that preparations are in advanced stages for the 2022 edition, and more than 1,000 people had already registered to take part. We are in final preparations now. People started registering two weeks ago, and we have already received over 1,000 applications including from outside Rwanda, he said. The former Rwanda international added, We could not hold the race for the last two years (2020, 2021) due to Covid-19, but we are back and we look forward to July 3. Richard Mutabazi, the Mayor of Bugesera, said the race promotes public health and social cohesion in the district.
