Rwanda has become a member of the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF), the international governing body for the sport of wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair basketball is played by people with varying physical disabilities that disqualify them from playing an able-bodied sport. These include people with birth defects, cerebral palsy, paralysis due to accidents, amputations, and many other disabilities. Rwanda was welcomed to the federation on January 25, along with three other countries: Ethiopia, Liberia and Malta. With the new members, the federation has increased the number of its members to about 95 on four continents (Africa, America, Oceania and Europe). Other countries on the African continent that make up the IWBF Africa Zone are: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. Welcoming the 3 new members, Ulf Mehrens the IWBF President said it is always a pleasure to add new members to the IWBF, It is especially encouraging to see further engagement in the Africa Zone, an area we are focussing on. And it is testament to the great work being done by the Zone,” he said. “We would like to welcome all the four (new members) into the wheelchair basketball family and we look forward to working with them, as they not only progress and develop the sport within their countries but showcase and drive social inclusion,” he added. Wheelchair basketball for the disabled was introduced in Rwanda in May 2018.
