How Rwanda is fast becoming destination for major sports competitions

Rwanda has become a favorite host for major continental competitions in recent years due to growth in sports’ infrastructure.

In 2021 alone, Rwanda hosted four major continental competitions, including Tour du Rwanda, the 75km distance race won by Cristian Rodriguez, in early May. The latter became the first Spanish and European rider to win the Tour du Rwanda.

 The country was awarded hosting rights for the 2025 International Cycling Union (UCI) World Championship.

The last few years saw the national flagship cycling competition, Tour du Rwanda, upgraded to a 2.1 UCI category race, and most recently awarded the hosting rights to the 2021 UCI World Cycling Championship.

“We want to be a sports hub in Africa. We don’t want only to have all the infrastructure locally, but we want everybody outside Rwanda, outside the region, and outside Africa, feel like this will serve everyone, especially attracting international competitions,” said Rwanda’s Minister of sport, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju.

The immaculate Kigali Arena, the country’s multipurpose sporting facility built and opened in 2019,  is integral in positioning Rwanda as a sporting nation in the region.

Located next to the country’s main Amahoro Stadium, Kigali Arena is the biggest indoor arena in East Africa, and is among Africa’s top 10 indoor sports venues. It has a capacity of hosting 10,000 spectators.

The multipurpose modern structure has been open to numerous indoor competitions since it opened its doors.

In May 2021, the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL) tournament came to Rwanda. The celebrity-studded event which saw Egyptian giants Zamalek crowned the very first champions of the BAL after beating US Monastir of Tunisia 76-63 in the final will be noted in history as the stepping stone to the development of basketball on the continent. The BAL is the first professional league run by the NBA outside the North American continent.

Later, from August 24 to September 5,  Kigali Arena also played host to the FIBA AfroBasket tournament, the men’s basketball continental championship contested by top African national teams, and played once every four years.

“I would like to thank specifically President Paul Kagame. When we have this beautiful infrastructure of world class level, we have to feel proud of ourselves that, in Africa, it is possible. This [Kigali Arena] is very important for the kids to start playing in these facilities,” said Anibal Manave, President of FIBA Africa.

Plans are underway to build a ‘sports city’ that will cover 35 hectares around Kigali Arena.

Areas where Amahoro National Stadium and Kigali Arena are located will get a facelift to produce what has been dubbed as the Remera Sports Hub. This major facelift will have more space for locals to train and venues that will attract more events.

The government developed a master plan for the Sports Hub, and mapped all games and sports that will be hosted in it.

Besides that, there is a plan to develop an aquatic centre with swimming pools and other recreational amenities.

In addition, a planned upgrade will see the capacity of Amahoro Stadium increased from hosting 25,000 people to 45,000 people.

“The same way you see the Kigali Arena which was built, we also want to upgrade the [Amahoro National] Stadium. So, we want to have this area around the Kigali Arena as a sports city where everyone can do their sports, attracting international competitions in swimming and so on, and again we are also planning to host the Paralympics, and the cycling competitions in the same premises,” Minister Munyangaju noted.

The Amahoro National Stadium will be at the heart of the envisioned Kigali Sports Hub.

According to Jean-Luc Cyusa, a former basketball player, hosting BAL and the FIBA Afrobasket is a clear sign that Rwanda is committed to play a pivotal role in the development of the game at the highest level.

“Putting in place the right infrastructures such as the Kigali Arena and other world-class hospitality services will attract participants in these competitions to showcase their talent and compete in the best conditions a basketball player would need to compete at pro level.

“I can see Rwanda hosting more international basketball competitions in the future.” Among others, besides the Gahanga cricket stadium which was inaugurated in  2017, Rwanda also started upgrading its golf course.