December 24 - Rwanda is to launch a bid to host the men's 2013 FIBA Africa Basketball Championships, it was announced today. 


 
The campaign is being led by Eric Salongo Kalisa, the President of Rwanda Basketball Federation, who played a crucial role in convincing top officials of the continental body to bring the club championship in Kigali.

He said: "FIBA Africa has welcomed our bid to host the 2013 African Championship after hosting a successful 2009 Africa Club Champions Cup.

"We have the ability to host the tournament considering that FIBA-Africa has given us a nod to host it.

"Our ambition as a federation and as a country is to stage the biggest basketball competition in Africa, the FIBA Africa Championship for men.

"We can assure the continental ruling body that the government is strongly behind our plan and we are set to build a new and bigger court."

Jean Pierre Karabaranga, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports and Culture,  has promised the Government will support the bid.

He said: "Hosting a continental championship is the responsibility of the Government therefore we are willing to work on our infrastructures before hosting the tournament."

Nigeria has made a bid to host the Championships in 2011, along with the Ivory Coast and Madagascar, they announced earlier this month.

The winners of the 2011 Afrobasket tournament will represent Africa at the 2012 London Olympic Games.


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 Nigeria bid for 2011 African Championships