Rwanda targeted a 10,000-meter race medal at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, said Chef de Mission Thierry Ntwali Gafligi at their national flag raising ceremony in the Olympic Village on Wednesday.
Gafligi said Disi Dieudonne, the 10,000-meter racer, is their hope for an Olympic medal.
"He finished 17th in the 10,000m race at 2004 Athens. Our target is to win one of the three medals of the 10,000 meters at Beijing Olympics," noted Gafligi.
Being the Chef de Mission at Olympics for the first time, Gafligi felt honored and very happy. "Everyone in our delegation is happy, and they can feel the atmosphere of Olympics," he said, adding that he was waiting for the athletes' good performances.
He noted the weather in Beijing is much hotter than their country which sees 30 degrees centigrade in maximum, but still they can manage it.
Rwanda sends a 10-member delegation to Beijing Olympics, among which four are athletes, including two track men and two swimmers.
Rwanda made its debut at Olympics Games in 1984 and never won any medal in its six Olympic appearances. Its most successful Olympian, Mathias Ntawulikura made the final of the 10,000m at the 1996 Atlanta Games, finishing eighth. He also competed in the marathon in both Sydney and Athens, finishing 15th and 62nd respectively.
(Xinhua News Agency August 6, 2008)