Rwanda Olympic Games Organizing Committee (COJOR) is seriously looking for funds ahead of the Beijing Games later this year. According to Thierry Ntwali, the chief of mission for the Beijing Olympics, the constraints for preparations are due to lack of funds. We are still looking for funds. Due to lack of funds, preparations right from the players, clubs, federations up to the National Olympics committee have been hampered, Ntwali explained. He said that preparations for the event should have started three years back but that, according to his experience, realities vary from each country. In Djibouti, where I have just come from, federations don’t ask their National Olympics Committee or the Ministry of Sports for funds, Ntwali noted. Boxing dropped participation in the January 22 Algeria qualifier due to incompetent preparations, he added before urging clubs and federations to improvise. In Beijing, Rwanda will be represented by five sporting disciplines; Athletics, Boxing, Paralympics, Cycling, and Swimming after Volleyball failed to make the list early this year. Already, two athletes have minimums, four Paralympics are qualified, and 6 Cyclists qualified during the All African Games.Ends
