Kigali Becomes The 4th African Host of The FIFA Congress
Over 2000 delegates that include all the 211 FIFA members, heads of Confederations and all FIFA Invitees traveled to Kigali, Rwanda for the five-day FIFA Congress starting on Monday 13th March 2023 that President Kagame said “will create more engagement and visibility on the African Continent”.
Kigali Becomes The 4th African Host of The FIFA Congress
Kigali hosting this sports event makes it the fourth African host after Marrakesh (in Morocco) hosted in 2005, Johannesburg (South Africa) in 2010, and Mauritius in 2013. The Congress comes at a time when Rwanda is positioning as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) and while addressing delegates also emphasized the need to borrow the positive spirit of sports into World politics.
“What the World requires is to see more of the positive spirit exhibited in sportsmanship into Politics, instead of political divisions into sports” said President Paul Kagame. While this is the fourth time the FIFA Congress is hosted in the African Continent, it is the first time Presidential Elections are conducted whereby Gianni Infantino was re-elected into the position for another four-year term.
The FIFA Congress is the Supreme legislative body that elects the new FIFA President and during his acceptance speech on being re-elected, FIFA President expressed gratitude for being given the second chance to lead and serve in the same capacity. “I am honored and humbled by the confidence you have in me, and grateful to the country for hosting us”. He said. Infantino also added that the hospitality shows how football can be a force for good and catalyst for change.
The 73rd FIFA Congress was also an opportunity to launch the refurbished 22000-seater Kigali Pele Stadium by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame on 15th March 2023. During the inauguration, Mr. Infantino pointed that Pele, the Brazilian Football legend (who died in December 2022) from whom the Stadium was named died but still with us hence it is crucial for every football lover across the World to remember him. Rwanda’s President expressed gratitude to Mr. Infantino for providing the country the opportunity to honor Pele by naming the Stadium after him.
Being the Supreme Legislative Body of FIFA (the International Association Football Federation), the Congress is either extraordinary or Ordinary. The latter convenes every year while the former is held at any time by the FIFA Council with support of at least one-fifth of the FIFA Members. Held annually since 1998 after every two years, each of the 211 members of FIFA has one vote with members having the opportunity to propose Candidates for the FIFA Presidency as well as World Cup Host.
About Rwanda
With a rich history that dates back to Centuries and a rich culture, Rwanda welcomes thousands of visitors with its outstanding wildlife species (big five game, the endangered mountain gorillas, golden monkeys, antelopes, chimpanzees, Masai giraffes, other primates, and warthogs), diversity of birds totaling to 700 specie, verdant hills and Valleys, vibrant Cities and Towns, mouth-watering culinary traditions and World-Class hospitality. With the wide range of things to offer, travelers sometimes get confused on where to go first and for your next trip, you can visit Volcanoes National Park, Kigali City, Akagera National Park, its different Genocide Memorial Sites, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Lake Kivu and cultural sites for a chance to get immersed into Rwandan traditions and customs.