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VISIT RWANDA: Paris Saint-Germain first-team players visit Rwanda

Economics

By MANZI

On Tuesday 3 May 2022

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On Saturday Rwanda welcomed Paris Saint-Germain first-team players Julian Draxler, Thilo Kehrer, Keylor Navas and Sergio Ramos for a three-day visit. The trip is part of Visit Rwanda’s partnership with Ligue 1 Champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The four players and their families started experiencing Rwanda’s first-class hospitality and exploring the country’s vast tourism offerings, such as sunday’s safari to see the Big 5 at Akagera National Park where they had the chance to observe lions, elephants, antelopes, zebras and rhinoceros as well as other animals in their natural habitat. Akagera National Park is Central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last remaining refuge for savannah-adapted species in Rwanda. It is a unique tourist attraction, home to more than 13,000 animals.

The players will next travel to see the majestic mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park. They will then meet local Paris Saint-Germain academy players and fans

In Kigali. There will also be a visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the victims and learn more about the Genocide against the Tutsi.

This trip comes after two Paris Saint-Germain legends’ visits: Youri Djorkaeff in 2020 and Rai in 2021.

Rwanda Development Board CEO, Clare Akamanzi, said:

« We are honoured to receive the Paris Saint-Germain players and their families to experience the best of what Rwanda has to offer. We are proud of our partnership with Paris Saint-Germain, which has resulted in tangible results since 2019. Through the visiting players, Paris Saint-Germain fans worldwide will be able to see the remarkable beauty of the country. We look forward to hosting more Paris Saint-Germain players, legends and fans to the premier luxury, eco-tourism destination. »

Marc Armstrong, Paris Saint-Germain’s Chief Partnerships Officer, added:

« We are delighted that some of our first team squad have had the chance to come to Rwanda. In addition to wearing the Visit Rwanda logo on their training kits, they can now get a taste for the Rwandan energy, creativity and natural beauty. It is great that we can further strengthen the partnership between Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain through trips such as these, with our former and current players. I have no doubt that they will enjoy their stay and return to Paris with unforgettable Rwandan memories. »

In 2019, Rwanda signed a three-year sports partnership with Paris Saint-Germain that leverages shared values and a commitment to providing incredible experiences to introduce Paris Saint-Germain fans to Rwanda. It is built around three main cornerstones: cultural and artistic synergies, a shared commitment to excellence and football development.

Last year, Paris Saint-Germain launched a brand-new Academy in Rwanda to nurture young football talent. Additionally, in the same year, Visit Rwanda and Paris Saint-Germain launched a new campaign to showcase Rwanda’s breathtaking tourism attractions and iconic sporting and events facilities and invite the world to visit Rwanda. The centrepiece of the campaign is a video that promotes Rwanda’s unique attractions, focusing on the new Kigali Golf Course.