Kigali Arena: a new epicentre of sport in East Africa
Context
Since the beginning of the 2000s, the city of Kigali, home to more than 1 million inhabitants, has undergone a profound, resolutely modern change. Different development plans have been introduced by the Government to meet the region’s socio-economic growth needs. One of the pillars of the Government’s Vision 2020 plan is the building and renovation of various sustainable infrastructures.
In this context, the Rwanda Housing Authority and the Ministry of Sport and Culture initiated the construction of the Kigali Arena, the largest multisport venue in East Africa. The complex will soon host the final stages of the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League as well as the Afrobasket 2021 tournament.
Goals
- Participate in the economic and sporting development of Rwanda
- Ensure broader access to sport in Rwanda
- Position Kigali and Rwanda as the leading sports hub in the East African region
- Develop a strong legacy component to ensure the sustainability of facilities that benefit the local communities
Activities
- Organisation of international, regional and local sporting competitions (including school and corporate sports)
- Variety of sports available (basketball, volleyball, boxing, tennis, futsal, etc.)
- Hosting of cultural events (exhibitions, concerts, etc.)
- Venue capacity: 10,000 seats
Watch a video about the Kigali Arena (source : SUMMA)
Impacts
- Positioning Rwanda as a sports and events hub in East Africa
- Infrastructure built in the context of a sustainable city to the benefit of school and professional sports ecosystems
- 1,068 Rwandan and 541 Turkish workers involved in the building of the site
Financement
- Project cost: around $104 million
- Public-private partnership (PPP) involving the Rwanda Housing Authority, the Ministry of Sport and Culture and the Turkish company SUMMA
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