Sports generate over Rwf 70 billion for Rwanda in four years

By The Inspirer.

Candy Basomingera, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB), announced that Rwanda earned $50 million (over RWF 70 billion) from sports-related activities over the past four years.

The countdown is on for four teams to meet in Rwanda for the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers, as the “Nile Conference” group stage will take place from May 17 to 25, 2025.

This is the fifth edition of the tournament, and for the first time, the final phase will not be held in Rwanda.

Since its inception in 2021, the BAL has significantly impacted Africa, especially in developing sports talent and contributing to economic growth.

While in Dakar, Senegal, for the Sahara Conference games, Basomingera gave a presentation on the progress the BAL has brought to Africa.

Since 2021, the BAL has created jobs for over 37,000 Africans, including both full-time and temporary workers in host countries.

Beyond job creation, the league has injected $250 million into the continent’s economy within just four years.

Basomingera emphasized that Rwanda serves as a model for other African nations in leveraging sports for economic benefits, noting the substantial revenue the country has generated.

She stated, “Between 2021 and 2024, Rwanda hosted over 70 sports events, including the FIFA Congress and the General Assembly for motorsports. These events generated $50 million, in addition to the many visitors they attracted.”

“Sports are an engine for national development. If the whole of Africa invests in it, the results could be transformative. Rwanda is already seeing returns and is now planning for the next 10 years.”

In 2024, the Ministry of Sports reported that sports events held in 2023 alone earned Rwanda around $13 million, equivalent to nearly RWF 17 billion.

The BAL is expected to boost the development of young African basketball talent, and the profits from the league will also be used to build sports infrastructure.

APR BBC will represent Rwanda in the BAL for the second consecutive year. The team is grouped with Al Ahli Tripoli from Libya, Made by Basketball (MBB) from South Africa, and Nairobi City Thunder from Kenya.