A complete of 5,871 younger athletes on Sunday, December 21, concluded the second version of the Nationwide Sports activities Expertise Week at Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare (GSOB) in Huye District, Southern Province.
The expertise search initiative is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Sports activities, applied in partnership with the Isonga-AFD Programme. It seeks to establish, promote, and develop younger sporting expertise throughout Rwanda in step with the Nationwide Sports activities Growth Coverage, whereas contributing to the nation’s long-term preparations for main worldwide competitions, together with the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Video games.
Not like the inaugural version, this yr’s week-long camp was held throughout all 30 districts nationwide. Pupil-athletes competed in six disciplines particularly basketball, volleyball, handball, athletics, soccer, and biking.
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Talking on the closing ceremony, Minister of Sports activities Nelly Mukazayire, who was the visitor of honour, inspired members to embrace sport as a defining id that calls for self-discipline and dedication.
“As we speak, you’re all winners, though the most effective have been awarded. This could ship a transparent message that solely onerous work thrives on this ecosystem,” she stated.
Huye District hosted the nationwide camp at GSOB, accommodating 477 college students, whereas the remaining districts every hosted 186 members. In accordance with Mukazayire, 17 faculties took half in latest camps, with high performers chosen to proceed within the expertise identification course of.
For athletes, the week prolonged past competitors.
“By means of this week, we learnt that teamwork results in success and that failure is a shared duty inside a workforce. I additionally gained a deeper understanding of Rwanda’s journey–something we, as younger individuals, ought to by no means take without any consideration,” stated 14-year-old Ethan Hirwa.
The Petit Séminaire Virgo Fidelis scholar was named Greatest Male Volleyball Participant of the nationwide expertise week.
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In accordance with Rwanda U20 handball nationwide workforce head coach François Xavier Ngarambe, the programme is already delivering tangible outcomes, notably in nationwide workforce scouting.
He stated that a number of promising gamers have been recognized all through the course of the programme in 2025.
“We now have already noticed gamers who can match into the U17 nationwide workforce, which is anticipated to take part in a regional event in early March 2026. This week has actually served as a scouting platform,” stated Ngarambe, who just lately guided Rwanda to a bronze medal on the Intercontinental IHF Trophy.
With the district-level part concluded, competitions will proceed on the provincial stage in early April 2026 earlier than culminating on the nationwide stage. The perfect-performing athletes will then be built-in into Rwanda’s preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Video games.