Kigali will continue to host the Basketball Africa League (BAL) games, including the playoffs and finals, in 2024, 2026 and 2028, officials have said.
The development was announced Monday, June 19, after the BAL and Rwanda Development Board (RDB) signed a multi-year extension of their existing collaboration.
The extension will see "Visit Rwanda” - the country’s marketing and tourism initiative - continue as a foundational and host partner of the BAL. Through the agreement, Visit Rwanda will continue to be showcased on BAL team uniforms and at the BAL Combine.
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"The Rwanda Development Board, as a foundational partner, has been integral to the launch and continued growth and success of the Basketball Africa League over our first three seasons,” BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said prior to the signing ceremony in Kigali.
"Coming out of our most competitive and compelling season yet, we’re excited to renew our collaboration with RDB that will bring BAL games as well as youth development and social impact programs to Rwanda for years to come,” he added.
Under the agreement, Fall said, the BAL and RDB will also collaborate on youth development and social impact programs.
It’s a development that RDB CEO Clare Akamanzi welcome with both hands as she expects Rwanda and the sport achieve more through the new partnership.
"We are excited to extend our collaboration with the Basketball Africa League,” Akamanzi said.
"We have seen tremendous success and return on investment over the last three years and look forward to doing much more together.”
"The BAL has proven to be a great unifier, and we remain committed to showcasing the best Rwanda has to offer in terms of tourism, investment opportunities, talent development, Made in Rwanda products and much more to the world. With the BAL and other major events, Rwanda is the home for sport in Africa,” she added.
Meanwhile, national airline, RwandAir, will, under the agreement, continue as the official airline of the BAL where it will facilitate travel to and from Kigali for select BAL teams and staff.
"We know how sport can bring communities together as teams compete to win and celebrate the power of teamwork and know the extended partnership will further strengthen those bonds,” said RwandAir Chief Executive Yvonne Manzi Makolo.
"We are focused on our goal of delivering world-class customer service as we bring people together through our extensive route network, and we look forward to flying fans and teams over the coming years,” she added.
In 2020, Rwanda and the BAL signed a three-year partnership agreement making the country an official founding and host partner of the tourney.
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Under the partnership, Rwanda hosted the first-ever BAL tournament at the state-of-the-art BK Arena during the past three seasons, from 2021 to 2023, before both parties held talks to extend their partnership.