Rwanda to Send Seven Athletes to Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Rwanda has confirmed its participation in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a team of seven athletes lined up to represent the country. They are due to participate in various events across four sports: athletics, cycling, fencing, and swimming.

According to the Executive Director at RNOSC, Jean Claude Rugigana, the athletes will depart for Paris on July 6, three weeks ahead of the start of the competitive events.

The athletes confirmed for the Paris 2024 Games include Yves Nimubona and Clementine Mukandanga, who will compete in the men’s and women’s athletics, while cycling has three representatives, namely Eric Manizabayo, who will compete in the men’s road race, and Diane Ingabire and Jazilla Mwamikazi, who are confirmed to compete in the women’s category.

Meanwhile, Oscar Peyre Mitilla Cyusa (men) is the only athlete who will represent Rwanda in swimming, while Tufaha Uwihoreye (men) will compete in fencing.

In addition, another athlete will complete the swimming team to raise the number of Rwandan athletes to eight.

The 131st IOC Session, held on September 13, 2017, in Lima, Peru, gave Paris the right to host the 2024 Olympics. Following numerous withdrawals that left only Paris and Los Angeles in contention, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted a process to concurrently award the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics to the two remaining candidate cities.

Paris, which previously hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924, will become the second city to host the Summer Olympics three times, following London in 1908, 1948, and 2012.

READ ALSO: Tobi Amusan Leads Team Nigeria to Gold at African Championships in 4x100m

It will be the eleventh consecutive appearance of Rwanda at the Summer Olympics since making his debut in 1984. The Paris 2024 Games will be held from July 26 to August 11, an opportune time for Rwanda to leave a mark in the international arena.

The confirmation of Rwanda’s participation comes as the country is set to mark its centenary of Olympic participation at the games. While, for France, the Paris 2024 Games will be a very special moment, becoming only the second city to host the Summer Olympics three times, after London.