It is that time of year when thousands line the streets across Rwanda to cheer on riders in Tour du Rwanda, an annual 2.1 UCI Africa Tour road cycling race, which has increasingly become a major highlight on the country’s sporting calendar. The rescheduled race attracted teams from around the world bringing smiles to the faces of sports fans across the country who have endured more than a year of strict Covid-19 restrictions that forced suspensions of sports leagues and tournaments and left stadiums a no-go area for fans. Today, the race heads north, a 171.6km-stage from Nyanza to Gicumbi, with Rwandan riders hoping to land their first podium finish since the competition kicked off on Sunday. Yet Tour du Rwanda is not the only exciting news for the local sports fans. One of the most exciting pieces of sporting news to hit headlines this last weekend was about US-based Emmanuel Rugamba who joined the Cleveland Browns, becoming the first Rwandan to play in the prestigious National Football League (NFL). The 22-year-old’s historic achievement will go a long way in inspiring Rwandan youth, a living example of what is possible when you work hard and remain disciplined and focused on your dream. This is true to sports as it is to other fields. Importantly, the generally good record of Rwandan riders in Tour du Rwanda and Rugamba’s NFL achievement are a testament to the potential of Rwandan youth and both make a strong case for deliberately investing in the talents of the young Rwandans. There is a need to build on the momentum created by recent sporting developments, such as the emergence of Basketball Africa League and its involvement with Rwanda to take the sports sector to another level. Aside from the promise of transforming sports into a major source of employment and producing talents that can promote Rwanda on the international scene, it augurs well for the country’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and tourism ambitions. The recently approved sports development policy is a good place to start. The plan must be accompanied by a willingness and deliberate effort to implement it – to make things happen, starting with creating the necessary frameworks for identifying and nurturing talents. And to make the investments and build partnerships needed to truly elevate the role and contribution of sports in society. We wish the best to both the Rwandan riders in Tour du Rwanda 2021 and to Emmanuel Rugamba in his budding NFL career.
