All Africa Games contingent slashed

Rwanda’s All Africa games contingent has been reduced to 113 from 145 due to financial constraints according to the chairman of the organizing committee, Parfait Busabizwa. The contingent includes 85 athletes and 27 officials, who include coaches, team doctors and administrators. Rwanda will be represented in; Basketball, Volleyball, Beach volleyball, Athletics, Boxing, Tennis, Table Tennis, Karate, Swimming, Cycling, Tae-kwon-do and sport for the disabled. Busabizwa told this paper that the organizing committee had liaised with the different federations that will send teams to the Games to reduce the number and put more emphasis in the areas that Rwanda has a competitive advantage. “We don’t want to just send ambassadors to the Games but to compete and win medals. So due to the budget that we have, we decided to reduce the contingent and concentrate on the areas that we have a competitive advantage,” Busabizwa said. In the last edition held in Algiers in 2007, Rwanda failed to win a medal. Dieudonne Disi came closest to the podium after a fourth spot finish in the half marathon. Rwanda last won a medal in the 1987 Games which were held in Kenya when Maricienne Mukamurenzi won a silver medal in the 10.000m race. This year’s event is slated to run from September 3-18 in Mapuot, Mozambique; attracting over 5000 athletes competing in 23 disciplines. Ends

Sports

All Africa Games contingent slashed