Rwanda reports Olympiad visa problems

Rwanda, only fielding three players, also had visa problems and were not permitted to stay until the end of the Olympiad. It’s ironic that they mentioned the success of Uganda, a team fielding two players due to visa problems. Several other African nations reported visa problems. Other affected African nations were Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. A full disclosure is forthcoming. Following is an article about the Rwandan case:

Julius Mbaraga, “Rwanda: Visa Debacle Hits Chess Team,” The New Times, 5 December 2008 (Kigali, Rwanda).

Rwanda’s chess team to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad that ended last week in Dresden, Germany, missed the eleventh and final round as their short visas could not allow them stay in Germany until the end of the competition.

Rwanda, represented by only three players; Kabera, Maxence Murara and Joseph Ngendo due to financial incapacitation put up a dismal performance to finish 147 out of 156 countries that took part in the two-week tournament.

However, in the individual category, the country’s top World Chess Federation (FIDE) rated player Kabera rose up to the challenge to finish 23rd after amassing six points in the ten rounds.

Uganda carried the East African region after garnering 20.5 points. The Olympiad ran from November 13-25 and Armenia emerged top with 31.