Luxury amuses Paralympians

A luxurious and spacious dining hall that is open 24 hours a day with more than 1,300 dishes from across the world served at the Athletes Village is among the impressive features that welcomed Team Rwanda yesterday.Two weeks in Bury St Edmunds where the team has been training from and now into this new village life that has a McDonalds restaurant is but a distraction more than it is a source of pleasure.The African and Caribbean section which offers a variety of dishes from the usual rice to plantains and chicken curry is there to at least make it easy for everyone to adapt to the new environment and not feel homesick for that matter.A line up of fridges with every type of soda, juices ranging from apple to orange flavours, milk and energy drinks like Powerade are at everyone’s disposal.Times Sport caught up with power lifter Théogène Hakizimana who said, “The food is amazing and I love it; however, I have to make sure that I watch my weight which is so important before I compete in my event.”Hakizimana competes on September 4 in the men’s 82.50kg. He does not have to go through the preliminary round. It is a final.Should Hakizimana’s weight increase past the 82.50kg, he will not be allowed to compete and such are the rules that run the games and with this in mind the Rubavu based Paralympian-to-be knows that he is here to compete and represent Rwanda to his best.Meanwhile, the Rwandan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ernest Rwamucyo and first secretary James Wizeye thanked the Mayor of Suffolk County, Tim Marks, the officials and volunteers for a job well done in hosting both the Rwanda Olympic and Paralympic teams.On a last visit to the training facility which is approximately 276 kilometers from London, Rwamucyo noted the effort invested by Suffolk and emphasised the need to maintain this legacy based on the relationship that was forged in 2010.“We have shared so much from the schools that have created relationships with Rwandan schools to cultural activities to the British cyclists who rode all the way to Rwanda to raise sports equipment to donate to 140 Rwandan schools, it has been an amazing journey,” Rwamucyo explained.In the same spirit, Rwamucyo referred to the athletes as the ambassadors of Rwanda at the Paralympics because they will be carrying the flag up high as they represent over 11 million Rwandans back home.Rwanda will officially be welcomed into the Athletes Village tomorrow evening with Rwandans across the United Kingdom expected to attend the function that starts at 7pm (CAT).

Sports

Luxury amuses Paralympians