Team Rwanda makes a debut at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
Rwanda is a name that reminds the world of the destructive genocide that took place in 1994 when over 800,000 people were brutally killed in the systematic violence that prevailed in the country. The ambitious youth of the country, however, wants to make
a difference by elevating the reputation of the country in the eyes of the world through tourism and sports. The 19th Commonwealth Games is the perfect platform to do so. The Chef de Mission of Team Rwanda is a young confident man, Bonnie Mugabe
who shared his views about how he wants to work for the betterment and rehabilitation of the country by promoting sports.
The country became a part of the Commonwealth nations last year, thus Delhi Games are the first Commonwealth Games that will be contended by the athletes from Rwanda. The team is although small, yet it is very enthusiastic for the Games and is determined
to take home gold medals in cycling and athletics. Their Chef de Mission Bonnie Mugabe expressed his confidence in the team while talking to the correspondents in New Delhi. He went on to say that Delhi Games is an awesome opportunity for the athletes to rebuild
their country’s reputation apart from just being famous for the genocide. Bonnie further added that if the athletes win gold medals, they will develop into champions who will get sponsors and advanced platforms to display their talent at its best. Taking home
gold medals will encourage other young and amateur athletes in the country. On the other hand, he said that if the team manages to clinch silver medals, it will again play a very vital role in the development of the country.
Rwanda will only be sending out its athletes in four disciplines at the Delhi Games. These include athletics, cycling, swimming and boxing. Many experts are of the view that athletes from Rwanda have a good chance of winning medals, despite their narrow
discipline participation.
Adrien Niyonshuti will be heading the cycling team, who lost six of his brothers in the genocide. His team has been training at South Africa for the Delhi Games and for the upcoming African Championships. Adrien gave his debut performance in Europe, in the
Tour of Ireland 2009.He started riding a bicycle that was gifted to him by his uncle when he was teenager. He caught the attention of a professional cyclist Jonathan Boyer in 2003, after which he was selected to train with the Rwandan cycling team. Later Boyer
headed the Rwandan cycling team as a coach. Niyonshuti landed in the top ten Rwandan cyclists’ list and retained his significance for about five years. The magnificent cyclist won the 2006 and 2008 Tour of Rwanda. By participating in the 2009 Tour of Ireland,
Niyonshuti became the first Rwandan cyclist to have contended in a European professional peloton. The African Championships will be hosted by Rwanda by the end of the year, another step towards elevating the country’s image in the world.
In athletics, the Rwandans will have to face some tough competition from the Ugandan and Kenyan athletes, especially in the long distance events. Epiphanie Nyirabarame will particularly be giving a tough time to the Rwandan athletes in the long distance
meets. The former is a two-time Olympic champion.
Using the platform of the Commonwealth Games, the Chef de Mission of Team Rwanda wants to get a message across. He wants to tell the world that all those who are here in Delhi for the Games have experienced the loss of family and friends, and no matter from
what ethnic background they are coming from, they will represent a united country at the Games. He also said that sports have been one of the best tools to mend the nation in the sixteen years after the genocide.
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