Ultimate Frisbee, a flying disc game that is popular in the United States has been launched in Rwanda by World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) based in the state of Colorado.

Speaking to Times Sport in an interview, Michael Tignor who has been delegated to Rwanda by WFDF as the coach and developer revealed that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) granted the game full recognition last month as an Olympic sport, and asked WFDF to develop the game in Africa where it is largely unfamiliar.

"WFDF is determined to develop the game here and I have been here since May. We have already formed a club called Kigali Ultimate Flying Gorillas with 11 players already registered,” said Tignor.

He further added that they are trying to regularise the club status with the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC) to become fully independent and recognized sports federation which he hopes to be done before January next year.

"We are going to take the sport to schools and coaching clinics to popularise the game because anyone can play the game. It is all about willingness and love for the game,” added Tignor.

Meanwhile, Kigali Ultimate Flying Gorillas that trains at Cercle Sportif de Kigali recently participated in the first ever African Frisbee club championship that was held in Uganda earlier this month where they finished third behind Kenya and Uganda to win a bronze medal.

Ultimate Frisbee is a no-contact team field sport played with a flying disc with a total of 14 players, seven against seven on a pitch similar to a rugby one.

Points are scored by passing the disc to a teammate in the opposing scoring area on the field called the end zone. The other basic rules are that players must not take steps while holding the disc, and interceptions, incomplete passes, and passes out of bounds are turnovers.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw