Rwanda’s Olympic Team Heads to Paris 2024 Olympics

The Rwandan Olympic team has been officially flagged off by the Minister of Sports, Aurore Mimosa Munyangaju, ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The team of eight athletes, comprising five women and three men, will represent Rwanda in cycling, athletics, swimming, and fencing.

This marks Rwanda’s debut in fencing at the Olympics. The athletes will depart for France on Friday, July 5, and will undergo a two-week pre-training camp in Courbevoie before moving to the Olympic Village on July 23.

Flagging off the team, Munyangaju, the minister, commended the National Olympic Committee and sports federations represented in Paris for their efforts in preparing the athletes.

Similarly, she commended the National Olympic Committee and sports federations for their efforts in preparing the athletes. She emphasised the need to establish a robust system to nurture more Olympians and increase Rwanda’s representation in the sport.

“It is a great step that, for the first time, Rwanda will compete in fencing. This gives us a task, as the Sports Sector, to establish a system that will help develop more Olympians, increasing the number beyond the eight athletes representing us in Paris 2024,” Munyangaju said.

The team includes experienced athletes such as Eric Manizabayo and Diane Ingabire in cycling, Yves Nimubona and Clementine Mukandanga in athletics, and Peyre Mitilla Oscar Cyusa and Lidwine Umuhoza Uwase in swimming. Tufaha Uwihoreye will make history as Rwanda’s first Olympic fencer.

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The Paris 2024 Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 11, and Rwanda will be among the 206 countries participating in the games.

The Rwandan team’s preparations have been supported by the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and sports federations. The country is eager to see its athletes excel and make Rwanda proud on the global stage.