RWANDA’s representatives at the London Olympic Games are among the least paid athletes compared to their counterparts from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.Rwanda’s team to the Olympics is comprised of two swimmers; Jackson Niyomugabo, Alphonsine Agahozo, three runners; Robert Kajuga, Jean Pierre Mvuyekure and Claudette Mukasakindi, judo player; Fred Yannick Uwase Sekamana and one mountain biker rider Adrien Niyonshuti.As usual, they are accompanied by a bigger official delegation led by NOC boss Brig. Gen. Charles Rudakubana. Others are NOC secretary general Parfait Busabizwa, Chef de Mission Serge Mwambali, media officer Fidèle Kajugiro, coaches Jonathan Boyer, Nicolas Dusine, Innocent Rwabuhihi, Joan Mercha and mechanical Maxime.Sports Minister Protais Mitali arrived in London yesterday to grace today’s opening ceremony.According to official records from the local Olympic committee, athletes have been given an allowance worth $47 per day, while officials will each receive $66 a day. The Games will last 15 days.However, unlike other countries, there will be no incentive for winning an Olympic medal for Rwandan competitors.The Finance Director in the Burundi Olympic Committee Marie Chantal Kankindi was adamant to confirm allowances for their London Olympic team. She said, “This is an internal matter because our athletes are being paid differently since we have local and foreign-based athletes thus have varying allowances”.Burundi sent six athletes and eight officials to the Olympics games.Tanzania sent seven athletes and eight officials to London games and each athlete is earning $50 per day while officials are estimated to be earning $100 per day.Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) have sent 16 athletes and 18 officials to the Games.Their athletes, coaches and other technical officials will each receive $72 per day for 15 days as out-of-pocket expenses, paid out of government’s contribution to the team.Officials from the Olympic committee will each receive $350 per day for 15 days. The country’s Vice President, Edward Sekandi, who is also the head of delegation, is entitled to a rate of about $710 per day while the minister’s per diem is understood to be at least $540.However, their athletes have been offered an incentive of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 for each gold, silver and bronze medals won at the games.Regional power house Kenya have sent 52 athletes and about 60 officials, excluding government entourage. Every Kenyan athlete is being paid an allowance since they joined camp until the end of the Olympics Games amounting to $120 per day which is close to $5400. Officials have been given $300 per day which is close to $13,500.Kenyan athletes have been offered an incentive of Ksh. 200,000 ($2400), Ksh. 150,000 ($1800) and Ksh. 100,000 ($1200) for each gold, silver and bronze medal won at the Games.However, many of Kenya’s athletes are genuine medal hopefuls and justify the higher number of officials the country sends to the games, compared to Rwanda. Rwanda has never won an Olympic medal.
