Following last year’s Rwanda Athletics Development Project, CHEZA is launching another project in Rwanda in 2026!
As with last year, this project is being implemented with the support of Sport for Tomorrow (SFT) through its SFT ACTION+ program.
This year, the project will be carried out in collaboration with the College of Sport and Health Science at Ritsumeikan University. We will also invite sports professionals not only from Rwanda, but from neighboring countries in East Africa, to participate in the program.
- [Read about last year’s Rwanda project here]
- *Sport for Tomorrow (SFT) is a public-private partnership initiative led by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Japan Sports Agency, together with sports-related organizations, private companies, universities, NGOs, and NPOs in Japan. [Sport for Tomorrow official website]
This year, we plan to carry out the following three activities in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.
① Physical Performance Testing
Following the 2025 project, we will conduct a range of physical performance tests for youth athletes, including tests of agility, jumping ability, and other physical abilities.
The program will introduce methods for visualizing athletes’ individual characteristics and development as part of talent identification and development.
We will also work toward building baseline data by age and sex, which is still limited in Rwanda, to support future athlete development.
② Ekiden (Japanese Relay Marathon)
We will organize a long-distance team relay race in the Japanese “Ekiden” format in Rwanda.
While cross-country competitions are held annually in Rwanda, this event will introduce a different type of racing experience in which team members pass a single sash, or tasuki, from one runner to the next.
Through this format, participants will experience a race that places greater emphasis on teamwork and strategy, while providing a new type of competitive experience for local athletes.
③ East African Sports Human Resource Development Workshop
We will invite coaches and other sports professionals from Rwanda and neighboring countries to participate in a sports human resource development workshop.
In addition to sharing practical knowledge and expertise through their participation as members of the organizing team for Activities ① and ② above, the participants will take part in lectures and workshops on topics including:
- Sports and Development
- Talent Identification and Development
- Conditioning and Nutrition
- Athlete Career Development
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