Rwanda will participate at the 2014 Africa Youth Games in Gaborone, Botswana from May 22nd-May 31st, but will not include a swimming delegation.
According to AllAfrica.com, the Rwanda National Olympic Committee has removed swimming, along with boxing, from its team that will represent the country in the second edition of this continental youth championship from May 22nd to 31st.
According to the Chef de Mission Elie Manirarora, “The two sports federations have not fulfilled the requirements needed to compete in the Games,” “Both boxing and swimming federations have not made any efforts to secure legal status just like other federations which will represent Rwanda in Gaborone games.
“Secondly, we have followed and controlled the way federations are holding their training sessions. Boxing and swimming teams have not had any reasonable preparations and they have no hope of helping our nation gun for medals,” “Winning medals in Gaborone is our sole aim and any federation which doesn’t show any sign of winning honours in the African Youth Games, will be dropped,” added Manirarora.
Among the country’s best hopes for success at that meet was to be Alphonsine Agahozo, a 17-year old who swam for Rwanda at both the 2012 Olympics (58th place) and the 2013 World Championships (72nd place) in the 50 free.
Botswana is one of 51 African members of FINA. In total, 54 countries with 5,400 athletes are expected to swim at the African Youth Championships, with many using it as a qualifying meet for the Youth Olympic Games. South Africa will generally be expected to dominate the meet, but African swimming as a whole has continued to get deeper this decade, so there should be plenty of diversity of representation on the podiums.
