Regional
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.