A whopping $1,000,000 (approx. Rwf1.16 billion) will be spent on the construction of the proposed international swimming pool, the local swimming governing body told Weekend Sport. Talks over the construction of a swimming pool that meets international standards have existed since World Aquatics president Husain Al Musallam visited Rwanda in March 2022. The project was also discussed during the General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) held Monday, June 26, in Hammamet, Tunisia. Rwanda is one of three African countries in which the Olympic Swimming Pool will be constructed with Uganda and Ghana also confirmed as beneficiaries of the project. “We want to build a swimming pool that meets international standards, a pool that will be attracting big competitions. We hope that construction works start anytime because we are waiting for the ministry of sports to approve it with World Aquatics,” Bazatsinda told Weekend Sport. He said that they are waiting for the ministry of sports to give them the green light to start construction works. ALSO READ: Rwanda mulls construction of Olympic swimming pool According to Bazatsinda, World Aquatics will provide some funds for the construction of the pool and needed standard construction materials while the ministry of sports will provide funds to start the project. The federation is pushing to have an Olympic swimming pool with hopes of motivating swimming athletes in terms of preparations and performance at the international scene. The open Swimming pool is planned to be built in Kimironko or Gahanga, it will have a mini Hotel and bar-resto. Weekend Sport understands that World Aquatics will also extend support to the Rwandan swimming federation in constructing an ultra-modern pool for the sport. While the future of a strong and formidable swimming foundation lies in having standard swimming infrastructure which can help athletes to have many competitions, Bazatsinda Is positive that the Olympic swimming pool will, upon completion, have a positive impact in nurturing new talents with outstanding performances that can help them win medals at international competitions.
