Wildcards good for local athletes - Bayigamba

The President of National Olympic and Sports Committee Robert Bayigamba has said athletes who have an opportunity to compete on wildcard tickets during the RIO 2016 Olympic Games scheduled for August 5-21 this year will not be barred. The Sports ministry last year warned athletes who sit back and wait for an easy route – under the wild-card system. Bayigamba explained that Rwanda has to give young athletes the opportunity to prepare for future Olympic Games, like the next 2020 Summer Games to be held in Tokyo, Japan. “We recently discussed the issue with all the federations during the General Assembly, and resolved to give the opportunity to such young athletes to prepare since we know they can’t win gold.” “We have Tokyo to think about, so we agreed that we need to give them a chance, as a way of training. Female cyclist, Jeanne d’Arcy Girubuntu and runner James Sugira need to compete in case they are offered wildcard tickets for Rio.” Bayigamba added, “If we give them a chance this year, they can be ready to compete in Tokyo or win a medal. We think preparing now is better, and let us not forget our biggest problem is lack of enough resources.” Since joining the 1984 Olympic movement, Rwanda is yet to win an Olympic medal. To ensure collective representation at the Games, the IOC offers national Olympic committees with few or without any competitors an opportunity to participate by offering them wildcards. A wild card is awarded to an athlete or team that has not qualified through the normal competitive procedures. For the Olympic Games, wild cards are issued to those that fail to meet the required qualification standards. In less than four months, Rwanda will be sending four participants to Rio 2016 Brazil after meeting qualifying standards. In the men’s marathon, Jean Baptiste Simukeka qualified. In the women’s marathon, it is Claudette Mukasakindi. In the men’s Olympic road race Hadi Janvier will be joined by another rider, most likely Nathan Byukusenge in the Mountain bike category. RNOSC vice president Elie Manirarora said Rwanda will also send twelve other athletes to compete on wildcard tickets. The biggest ever since the country participated in the Games. editorial@newtimes.co.rw