Rwanda’s Sports and Culture Minister Julienne Uwacu hands over the flag to lead African and Rwandan cyclist Joseph Areruya.
Rwanda’s Sports and Culture Minister Madam Julienne Uwacu has flagged off the national team to this year’s Commonwealth Games which will be held in Gold Coast, Australia from April 4-15, 2018.
The event which was held at Amahoro stadium on Friday afternoon attracted officials of Rwanda National Olympic Team and the national team delegation.
As she wished the athletes good luck and encouraged them to work collectively as team to make Rwanda proud by winning honours, Minister Uwacu urged athletes who have intentions of escaping from national duty to desist from the unprofessional act.
She said, “It’s not professional to find anyone with intentions of escaping on national duty while competing in such competitions. It’s a culture of cowardism which we cant tolerate and is compared as an act conspirancy and treasonable against the nation,”
The Rwanda Commonwealth team which will be represented by 17 athletes is expected to start residential camp this week before they depart to Australia next week. Athletics, Beach Volleyball and Paralympic powerlifting teams will head to Goldcoast this month while Cycling team will head there in the first week of April.
Since the debut participation in the quadrennial event in New Delhi, India, in 2010, no Rwandan athlete has ever been able to win a medal.
Final Rwanda Commonwealth Games Team
Athletics: Nyirarukundo Salome, Nizeyimana Alexis, Sugira James, Nishimwe Beatha, Ishimwe Alice and Tuyishime Christophe
Beach Volleyball: Nzayisenga Charlotte and Mutatsimpundu Denyse
Cycling: Areruya Joseph, Ndayisenga Valens, Ukiniwabo Jean Paul Rene, Uwizeye Jean Claude, Uwizeyimana Bonaventure, Munyaneza Didier, Ingabire Beatha, Manizabayo Magnifique
Para Powerlifting: Niyonzima Vedaste
