Rwandans and friends of Rwanda are observing the 29th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi.
The next 100 days not only reflect on the period during which the Genocide against the Tutsi lasted but also an occasion to honor over a million of Tutsi who lost their lives during the tragedy as well as comfort those who survived.
The sports fraternity lost a big number of players, referees, sports journalists, and other key personalities who were synonymous with the popular sport. Young and old and promising talents, some of which were destined to fill the shoes of local legends, were killed.
Since the atrocities of 1994, the central African nation has made tremendous strides and is increasingly showing signs of recovery in all sectors and sports is no exception.
The country's development has seen an impressive rise and sports has played a significant contribution through football, basketball, volleyball, cycling and Athletics to mention a few.
Rwanda has been on an ambitious program to build her image through sports including organizing sports events and hosting them and the government has succeeded in using sports as an essential vehicle to unite its people and build the country’s image beyond her borders.
After the Genocide, President Paul Kagame and his government has put in efforts in promoting sports as one of the tools to not only reunite and reconcile Rwanda but also generate revenues for athletes and the country at large.
Football, for instance, played a big role in survivors’ recovery from the fresh wounds caused by the Genocide.
In his recent address while receiving the CAF President’s Outstanding Achievement Award 2022 , Kagame told the world of football that convened in Kigali for the colorful awarding event held in Kigali that sports, particularly football, has a special place in Rwandan history, given the role it has played reuniting Rwandans and bringing them together again after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
"Months before the tragedy happened here in 1994, there was a lot of fighting, there was a history of sectarianism and so forth. One of the things that always comes at the top that people clang to, that kept bringing us together was sports and particularly football,” he said.
Speaking of football, Rwanda hosted CECAFA 1999 and won it before the country eventually qualified for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) for the first time. The two major football achievements put a smile to the faces of millions of Rwandans who started to find joy in sports after less than a decade from the tragedy.
29 years later, Rwanda thanks sports for the huge role it played in promoting peace, unity and reconciliation among Rwandans and the contribution it had to the country's tourism revenues.
For instance, through sports memorial tournaments organized annually in various sports disciplines, sportsmen and women, families, and fans who lost their lives during the 1994 Genocide are honored every year.
Sports in particular has helped to unite the people of Rwanda who no longer talk about the past ethnic groupings.
The government of Rwanda has spent quite large sums of money to support the construction and promotion of various sports infrastructures like Stadiums for football and BK Arena which host many events of Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, and entertainment.
From making debut appearance in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia to a number of major tournaments like CECAFA of countries and clubs, AFCON U-20 and U17 and African Nations Championship (CHAN), Basketball Africa League (BAL), FIBA Afrobasket and CAVB-Volleyball African Nations Championship among others, Rwandans have found joy and niche in sports.
But more importantly, Rwanda has been able to build its image locally and project itself positively on the international scene while diverting the attention of nationals from local problems.
Just like the world has known Rwanda because of the Genocide against the Tutsi, the country is investing in sports to write a new story to boost its visibility, beautify its image and hence establish itself as one of the top world tourism destinations.
Tour du Rwanda, Kigali International Peace Marathon, Basketball Africa League, major sports partnership deals with Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are among major sports that the country has been venturing into to not only help Rwanda’s recovery from Genocide thrive but also help in the country’s economic rebuilding process.