Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOC) requires Frw189.647.000 million to prepare teams for next year’s Beijing Olympic Games, Chef de Mission Thierry Ntwali said on Friday.

Ntwali said that RNOC intends to send five disciplines and more than 25 sportsmen and women during the Summer Games.

"This is the total budget needed to ensure that respective federations start early preparation for their respective athletes who would take part in the 2008 Olympic Games,” Ntwali said.

He noted that the figure was reached at after participating federations handed in their budgets to the national Olympic body early this month.

Rwanda plan to take 25 competitors for the Games but only three, Dieudonne Disi, Jean de Dieu Nkundabera and Felix Muvunyi have so far booked their tickets.

The swimming federation Secretary General Jean De Dieu Sagatwa said three swimmers, Pamela Girimbazi, Jackson Niyomugabo and Aimable Hakizimana would qualify vie wild card invitations.

The five disciplines vying for slots in the national contingent are: boxing, cycling, swimming, athletics and Paralympics.

Meanwhile, the boxing and athletics federations are the only possible federations that would enable Rwanda send a big contingent to China next year if their athletes attain the minimum required standard.

The athletics federation has to field its athletes in various African and European championships early next so that they achieve minimum required times.

The same applies to the boxing federation which has to send its boxers to the two remaining African qualifying championships in January and March next year respectively.

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