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Rwanda is pushing ahead with its bid to be added to the lucrative Formula 1 race calendar as part of a wider plan to double down on sports events as a central plank of its economic growth plan.

Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe told Semafor Africa Rwanda is still in talks with Formula 1 concerning its bid to host the sport’s first race in Africa since 1993. He said Rwandan authorities were working with other countries that already host races to learn from their experiences. He said “We’re interested — it would be a good thing for the sport itself and Rwanda.”

Nduhungirehe said multimillion-dollar investments in facilities, partnerships with sports federations like NBA’s Basketball Africa League, and sponsorship deals with top European football teams including England’s Arsenal and France’s Paris St Germain were driving tourism.

The minister said hosting sporting events helped to drive tourism revenue, which stood at $636 million in 2023 — a 36% increase on the previous year.

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