RWANDA has been urged to join the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), just days after being admitted into the 53-nation bloc. Rwanda became the 54th member of the organization dominated by former British colonies during a high-profile meeting held in Trinidad and Tobago last weekend. In a letter addressed to the National Olympic Committee (RNOC), the president of the CGF Michael Fennell O.J urged Rwanda to apply for membership. “From a global perspective, the Commonwealth Games are only second to the Olympic Games and we would very much look forward to welcoming Rwandan should the country proceed with a formal application for membership ahead of the next edition of the Games in India,” part of the email read. CGF is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games. If Rwanda applies for membership in time, there is a high possibility that they could be drafted into next year’s Commonwealth Games slated for October 3-14 in Delhi, India. “We shall make an official application as soon as the new executive committee takes office,” RNOC’s executive director Thierry Ntwali said. The 19th edition will be held in a city with a population of over 15million, compared to 3.5million at the 2006 Melbourne Games and 2.5 million at the 2002 Greater Manchester Games. Commonwealth Games is a multinational, multi-sport event. Held every four years, it involves elite athletes from Commonwealth nations. Attendance at the Games is usually in the range of 5,000 athletes, making it one of the largest international sporting events in terms of participants. Some of the sporting disciplines to be contested in include: Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Boxing, Cycling, EAD Events, Gymnastics, Hockey, Netball, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis and Weightlifting. Delhi, won the right to host the 2010 Games after defeating the Canadian city of Hamilton by 46 votes to 22 at the CGF General Assembly held in Montego Bay in November 2003. This will be the first time India has hosted the Games and only the second time the event has been held in Asia. A green light for Rwanda will make them the 72nd nation on the plane to India’s capital. Ends
