Athletes intensify London Olympic preparations

Rwanda athletes’ preparations for the London Olympic Games at West Suffolk Athletics Arena at Abbeycroft Leisure’s Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre have not been affected despite torrential downpour in Britain.The team’s Chef de Mission Serge Mwambali told Times Sport from West Suffolk on phone on Friday the team has intensified their preparations and they have not been interrupted by rain.“The team is fine and everyone is training well despite the unkind weather. The swimmer and the judo player are training indoors but the runners have been forced to train mostly in the mornings because of the rain in afternoon,” said Mwambali.Less than two weeks before the start of the 2012 Olympics, British officials and athletes around the globe are bracing for a dark threat to the London Games.Suggesting scenes of mud-caked Olympians ahead, torrential downpours already have wreaked havoc at recent British sporting events. Massive disruptions turned at least 10,000 spectators away from the Formula One race at Silverstone as well as the Wimbledon tennis Grand Slam last week.Mwambali described the training as good for the athletes, who he said are using modern facilities and well qualified expertise at the Bury St Edmunds’s high performance centre. “The athletes are in good shape. We hope the top quality facilities and qualified expertise will help our athletes ahead of the Games,” he added.Rwanda team is comprised of Claudette Mukasakindi and Robert Kajuga, who will compete in the 10.000m category, Jean Pierre Mvuyekure (half marathon), Yannick Fred Sekamana (Judo) and Alphosine Agahozo (swimming).The Rwandan Olympic team arrived in Bury St Edmunds last week to complete their preparations before they move on to the Olympic village in London for London Olympics 2012 The team of four athletes and their coaches arrived at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre in time to see the Olympic Torch complete its journey through the town. The team was received by delegates from Rwanda High Commission that went to Suffolk to welcome them; they included 1st Councillor Linda Kalimb, Trade and Investment Asst Brenda Nyakira, High Commissioner wife, Pauline Rwamucyo as well as two Rwanda Community members Clotilda Muliisa and Bonita Mutoni.In a related development, Rwanda Olympic Committee chairman Brig. Gen. Charles Rudakubana and Secretary General, Parfait Busabizwa will fly out to London on Monday to join the team.