The Head of State made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 194th UCI Congress in Kigali on Thursday, where leaders from 132 national cycling federations gathered to mark the milestone event.
President Kagame lauded Lappartient for standing up for fairness in global sports hosting, noting that his principled leadership opened doors for Africa on the international stage.
'The main rule of any sport is fairness,' Kagame said. 'We thank UCI President David Lappartient for his integrity and courage to stand up for what is right and fair. Governing bodies of sports have a responsibility to open doors and expand access, and that is what we see UCI doing.'
He also addressed the scepticism and dismissive attitudes that often greet Africa hosting global events, calling them outdated and wrong.
'Too often, when Africa or another non-traditional host is chosen for a global event, the reaction is sceptical and frequently dismissive. These reflexive attitudes are outdated and wrong,' Kagame said, emphasizing that Africa has the talent, vision, and infrastructure to host world-class competitions.
President Kagame highlighted Rwanda's own journey in developing cycling, pointing to investments in infrastructure, training, and the integration of three UCI satellite centres, which make the country only the second in Africa to host such facilities.
He also noted that this week's championship features 108 nations, including a record 36 from Africa, underscoring the continent's growing presence in the sport.
In his address on Thursday, UCI President David Lappartient hailed Rwanda's role in making history by hosting the UCI Congress and World Championships.
'Your Excellency, President Paul Kagame, it's a very big honour to have you here with us,' Lappartient said. 'The 132 national federations here asked me to thank you and to thank Rwanda for making the history. And it is a wonderful chapter. We will never forget our time in your beautiful country.'
He praised the passion and enthusiasm of Rwandan fans and athletes, noting that the images and memories of the week in Kigali would remain with the cycling world forever.
'Your presence in this room today gives us inspiration and adds prestige to the UCI Congress. Your Excellency, you have made a great impact on the UCI World Championship and the UCI Congress. Thank you very much,' he added.
On Sunday, during the official launch of the UCI in Kigali, Lappartient described the event as the fulfilment of a long-held dream since his 2017 election campaign.
'When I was running for president, I had a dream to bring our pinnacle event to Africa,' he said. 'The talent from Africa has grown tremendously and this week, the world will witness it… This will likely be the hardest UCI Road World Championship ever but also one of the most spectacular, in the Land of a Thousand Hills.'
He credited Rwanda's leadership for making the milestone possible. 'Without the vision of President Paul Kagame, without our shared vision, it would have been impossible. We are so proud to be here for the first time ever,' Lappartient told the audience.
The week-long championship in Kigali is expected to leave a lasting legacy, not only in sporting achievements but also in demonstrating Africa's capacity to host world-class events.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
