Team Rwanda off to London

THE first batch of athletes that will represent Rwanda left yesterday for London where they will continue preparations for London Olympics Games slated to start on July 27.Robert Kajuga, who will compete in the 10.000m category, Jean Pierre Mvuyekure (half marathon),Yannick Fred Sekamana (Judo) and Alphosine Agahozo (swimming) alongside chef de Mission Serge Mwambali are expected to arrive in London today.The quartet will spend two weeks at West Suffolk Athletics Arena at Abbeycroft Leisure’s Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre which was chosen by the country to host the Rwandan Olympic and Paralympics teams as they prepare for London 2012.Team Rwanda will later join the Olympic village in London on July 18 to fine tune ahead of the Games which kick off on July 27.While handing the national flag to the delegation in a ceremony held at the ministry’s headquarters at Amahor stadium in Remera, the Minister of Sports and Culture Protais Mitali cautioned the athletes “to exercise discipline during their stay in London and make the country proud by returning with medals.”The second contingent, which includes athletes in boxing, cycling, Taekwondo and the Paralympics team is expected to leave next week on Thursday.Meanwhile, Rwanda’s beach volleyball team of Denyse Mutatsimpundu and Charlotte Nzayisenga were yesterday given USD 1000 (about Rwf612,000) each by the sports ministry for winning the African women beach volleyball team after winning the final 2-0 against South Africa.The duo also qualified for the world junior women beach volleyball tourney slated later this year in Halifax, Canada.