‘Extra special’ welcome
THEY hail from a nation half a world away, but athletes from Rwanda were greeted like local heroes by hundreds of students at Livingstone Christian College yesterday.
President of the Commonwealth Games Federation Louise Martin, who attended the welcoming ceremony, said it left her weak at the knees.
“To see all the children here from the Rwandan diaspora and having the athletes come in, my knees are still shaking, it was really extra special, that’s what we’re all about,” Ms Martin said.
“Bringing everyone together and showing we can be united.
“We are all the same, what (the school) has done over the past 18 months to deliver what we saw here this morning for these young Rwandans, that was extra special today.”
Livingstone Christian College had been preparing to welcome the athletes from the African nation for more than 18 months as part of the GC2018 Schools Connect Program.
Teachers were proud to see students like grade six pupils Jaxon Oosterwaal and Shannon Witkowski, both 11, draw inspiration from the athletes.
“We were looking forward to see the powerlifter (Vedast Niyonzima ),” Jaxon said of the Rwandan para-athlete, who gave students high fives as he entered the school to thunderous applause. “Because it just goes to show he’s a para-athlete and you can do anything no matter how you are, it’s really cool, he’s inspiring.”
Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee president Valens Munyabagisha said sport had helped to bring his nation together in the wake of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, which saw the deaths of up to a million people.
“When you play sport you play together, you don’t mind who is playing with you, you play as a team,” said Mr Munyabagisha, whose country was admitted to the Commonwealth in 2009.
“That is why sport played a very important role in bringing people together and building the reconciliation of our people.
“Even now in Rwanda, every Friday we play sport, and the first and the third Sunday of every month is called the car-free day where people (get out of their cars) and do sports.”
Livingstone Christian Collage principal Dr Mark Laraghy said the school had built up a strong relationship with the local Rwandan community.
“This is such a special moment for us, we hope this is a special moment for you,” he said to the athletes.
“It’s been terrific to build a bridge with Rwanada.”