Olympic team urged to fight for medals

Rwanda’s Beijing Olympics bound team has been urged to defy history and win medals when the Games get underway in Beijing, China on August 8 to 24. The Rwanda National Olympic Committee president (RNOC) Ignace Beraho made the appeal during a meeting with the Beijing-bund team at Amahoro stadium recently. “You (athletes) should learn to sacrifice like army men, work harder and don’t run for nothing but have an aim every time you compete. “You must also change your attitude and pray hard that God answers your dreams of winning medals for your motherland in this year’s Games,” Beraho said. Athletes attended the meeting included Paralympics star Jean de Dieu Nkundabera, Pamela Girimbabazi (swimmer), Félix Ntirenganya (marathon) and Epiphanie Nyirabarame (marathon). Girimbabazi, who has represented Rwanda in two Olympic Games; 2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Games, is hoping for a better show this time round. “We are training hard for the Games but it would be a lot better if we got the chance to train in Olympics standard swimming pool,” Girimbabazi said. While Nyirabarame, who along with Dieudonne Disi are the only athletes to have qualified for the Beijing Games has vowed to become the first Rwandan athlete to win a medal at the able bodied Olympics. “I am only focused on winning the first medal for my country. I don’t care what happens on my campaign to win that medal but I have equipped my mind with plans to win an Olympics medal,” noted the female athletes who also participated in the Athens Games. Rwanda faces the prospect sending the smallest number of participants in her history at the Beijing Games. Until now, two athletes, two swimmers and one Paralympics athlete have qualified but more athletes have the chance to increase that number before the deadline on July 30. Dieudonné Disi (10.000m) and Epiphanie Nyirabarame (women full marathon), Girimbabazi, Jackson Niyomugabo (swimming) and Jean de Dieu Nkundabera (Paralympics 800m) have already booked their tickets. The National Paralympics Committee has the chance to have more athletes qualify for the Beijing Paralympics Games at the Germany Paralympics Championship due in July. Elmas Muvunyi (100m and 200m), Nkundabera (1500m) are the athletes confirmed to take part in the Germany Paralympics games. The 2004 Athens Paralympics bronze medalist, Nkundabera qualified for the Beijing Games in 800m during last year’s All Africa Games in Algeria but wants to secure a slot in the 1500m. Meanwhile, Ntirenganya, Angelline Nyiransabimana (10.000m) and Sylvain Rukundo (5.000m) are expected to take part in one European championship next month as they aim to secure the minimum qualification standards for the Games. Ends

Lifestyle

Olympic team urged to fight for medals