Rwanda Athletics Development Project 2025 – Component 2: Workshop in Kigali for Athletics Coaches (January 6, 2026)

We, CHEZA, implemented the “Training of Coaches and Talent Identification and Development in Athletics in Rwanda.”

As the second component* of the project, our team traveled from Japan to Rwanda to conduct a talent identification program for youth athletes, provide athletics training for young athletes, and hold workshops for Rwandan coaches and other sports professionals, with a particular focus on athletics.

*See the first component of the project: Training of a Rwandan Athletics Coach in Japan

The four-day program was held on January 3-6, 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda, attended by approximately 150 participants in total. The activities also received attention from local media, including Rwanda’s national broadcaster and major newspapers.

The program consisted of the following activities:

Physical performance test for youth athletes (Talent identification program)
Particpants underwent about 20 items of physical performance test such as vertical jump, long jump, handgrip strength, ball throw, flexibility, and short and long distance run.
Athletics training for Rwandan youth athletes
The training was given to youth athletes by a Japanese athletics coach and a trained Rwandan coach who participated in the training in Japan, introducing the drills and methods he learned.
Workshop for Rwandan sports coaches and other sports professionals
1. Methods and techniques of Talent Identification and Development
2. Report on the training program in Japan by the Rwandan athletics coach
3. Introduction of athletics training methods
4. Sports nutrition workshop
Meetings with relevant organizations, including the Ministry of Sports and Culture of Rwanda