Rwanda to host Basketball Africa League Finals in May2022
By George Kalisa
Basketball Africa League (BAL) President, Amadou Gallo Fall confirmed that the second consecutive BAL finals will take place at Rwanda’s world-class Kigali Arena from May21-28. The announcement was made at a joint media event on the sidelines of the Nile Conference of BAL Season 2 in the Egyptian capital, Cairo yesterday.
Fall said that the partnership of the trio – BAL, RDB and Visit Rwanda speaks volumes of the belief that sports including Basketball can accelerate economic growth in the Continent, adding that Rwanda is far ahead in tourism in Africa.
“As we set to return to the world-class Kigali arena to play our second consecutive BAL final, teaming up with RDB and Visit Rwanda reflects our belief that sport, and basketball, can be an economic growth engine for the continent. Rwanda continues to lead the way for tourism in Africa, and this partnership highlights an African continent that is creative, vibrant, and ready to tell its story,” remarked Fall.
Rwanda’s envoy to Egypt, Albert Kalisa reiterated his country’s commitment to continue promoting tourism, saying that sports and tourism are inseparable and paramount to the Rwandan people.
“Sports and tourism are important to Rwandans at all levels. We have the responsibility to ensure Rwandans continue to take pride in their culture and in all sports engagements, like the BAL, that uplift our nation. We are very happy to see The BAL returning home to Rwanda for the second time, and we look forward to welcoming all visitors to Kigali in May,” remarked Ambassador Kalisa.
During a successful first year of the multi-year partnership and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the event showcased the country as a world-class tourism and investment destination and highlighted Africa’s growing sports industry. The inaugural season also brought to Kigali notable global personalities, former NBA players and legends to witness the historic inaugural season.
The second edition of the BAL, which started in March with stops in three countries, saw Dakar, Senegal host the Sahara conference, Cairo, Egypt hosting the Nile conference. The season will finish off in Kigali with an eight-game Playoffs and the Finals.
Through the partnership, Visit Rwanda branding is being prominently displayed, and the best of what the country has to offer is being broadcasted on channels such as ESPN to thousands of basketball and sports fans across the world. In addition, this season will see The BAL and RDB collaborate on youth development and social responsibility initiatives in Kigali on the sidelines of the playoffs.
The two partners organized a media event attended by over 20 journalists from various countries at the Dr Hassan Moustafa Sports Hall in Cairo, Egypt. They touched on the impact of the partnership, the upcoming Playoffs and what to expect when in Kigali in May.
Eight teams from across the continent, including Rwanda’s Rwanda Energy Group (REG), who topped the Sahara Conference in Dakar, Senegal, will compete in the Playoffs. The Kigali Arena will host all the Playoffs games, with the second edition of the finals taking place Saturday, 28 May.