The Rwanda National Olympic Committee (RNOSC) is expected to decide election dates for a new committee during the Ordinary General Assembly slated for Saturday, April 3. Federations like Athletics called for elections to be held before the Olympic Games however some others wanted the Olympic Committee to focus on preparations for the much-anticipated 2020 Olympic Games slated in July this year in Tokyo, Japan and hold elections after. The Tokyo 2020 Games were originally due to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020 but were later rescheduled from July 23 August 8 in Tokyo, Japan after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the sporting world last year. As a result of the pandemic, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) advised country members to hold elections either before or after the Olympic Games. For the case of Rwanda, rescheduling the Tokyo 2020 Games triggered plans to hold the elections for the National Olympic Committee whose term of office run out last month. Valens Munyabagisha, the current President of the National Olympic Committee was elected unopposed in March 2017, replacing Robert Bayigamba. His four-year term was supposed to have ended in March this year but, according to the Olympic Charter, elections are held the following year after the Olympic Games. With the Olympic Committee set to decide elections date this Saturday, April 3, the IOC’s charter gives the committee a choice to either let the current committee’s term remain in office until August to give them time to focus on helping athletes in the preparations for the Olympic Games in Tokyo and then resume elections after the Olympic Games. The idea has, however, sparked mixed reactions from federations with the Rugby body (RRF), for instance, supporting the RNOSC committee to remain in office until August to avoid disruption of the country’s preparations for Tokyo 2020 Games which will be held later this year. With only two athletes now qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games, a number of athletes are in race to book tickets to the Olympic games and the Olympic Committee is fully focused on helping them in their preparations. In the interests of athletes, the General Assembly will meet and chart a forward during the General Assembly on Saturday in order not to disrupt the Olympic Games preparations. At the moment, no candidates have come forward to show interest in the position of RNOSC president while Munyabagisha remains undecided whether he will run for another term.
