Latest news with #Jean-GuyAfrika
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Rwanda becomes first African sponsor for football giants, Atlético Madrid
The 'Visit Rwanda' campaign has secured a new partnership with Spanish football giants Atlético Madrid, expanding its growing roster of elite football club sponsors. Rwanda's 'Visit Rwanda' campaign partners with Atlético Madrid, adding to its sponsorship deals with Arsenal, PSG, and Bayern Munich The deal includes a technical development component for young Rwandan players and coaches Critics have raised concerns about the government prioritizing sponsorships over pressing domestic concerns This latest three-year sponsorship agreement makes Atlético Madrid the fourth major European club to feature Rwanda's tourism branding, following similar deals with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Bayern Munich. As part of the partnership, the "Visit Rwanda" logo will appear on the kits of both Atlético Madrid's men's and women's teams beginning next season. The move is part of Rwanda's strategic push to market itself as a premier global tourism and investment destination through high-profile sports marketing. Jean-Guy Afrika, CEO of the Rwanda Development Board, said: 'Through this collaboration, we aim to showcase Rwanda as an attractive destination for investors, a unique experience for global travelers, and a platform for nurturing talent and expanding opportunities for young Africans through sport. ' Óscar Mayo, Atlético de Madrid's General Director of Revenue and Operations, emphasized: ' Visit Rwanda's great importance as a partner in our club's goal of international expansion. We are always looking for partners with global solvency, linked to football and Visit Rwanda is an example of this. It is a country in constant growth and I am convinced that we will both benefit from this partnership.' The deal also includes a technical development component that will grant young Rwandan players and coaches access to Atlético Madrid's world-class training expertise. Protests mount over 'Visit Rwanda' sponsorships While the Rwandan government celebrates this milestone, critics—including some human rights organizations—have questioned the country's priorities, arguing that high-profile sponsorships come at the expense of pressing domestic concerns such as governance, civil liberties, and press freedom. This new partnership comes amid ongoing protests from Arsenal supporters, who have criticized the club's association with Rwanda due to the country's alleged involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to the BBC, Arsenal's management has declined to comment on the activities of a new rights group within the club - the Gunners for Peace campaign, which is pressuring the club to drop its sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda. The Congolese government also protested the sponsorship deals, urging clubs like Arsenal to cancel their partnerships with Visit Rwanda. This call to action stems from allegations of Rwanda's involvement in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which the Congolese government strongly condemns. A Rwanda government spokesperson defended their sports partnerships, saying they help boost the country's economy.
United News of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Atletico de Madrid becomes partner in Rwanda's global tourism push
Kigali, May 1 (UNI) Rwanda and Atletico de Madrid, a Spain-based football club, have entered into a partnership to promote the Visit Rwanda tourism brand, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said. The deal marks Atletico Madrid's first-ever commercial collaboration with an African brand, according to the RDB statement issued Wednesday. The multi-year partnership, running until June 30, 2028, "reflects Rwanda's strategic ambition to position itself as a premier global hub for investment, tourism, and sports development," Jean-Guy Afrika, chief executive officer of the RDB, was quoted as saying. As a premium partner, Visit Rwanda will feature prominently on the front of Atletico de Madrid's men's first team training and warm-up kits for the remainder of the current La Liga season, including the Club World Cup. From next season, the branding will also appear on the women's first team training kits and on the back of official match jerseys for both teams, the statement added. According to the RDB, the agreement includes significant visibility across Atletico de Madrid's home stadium Riyadh Air Metropolitano, digital platforms and global fan engagement campaigns. Rwanda has also been designated as the club's official training partner, official tourism destination partner, and official coffee supplier, offering a global stage to promote Rwanda's renowned coffee and hospitality. Beyond branding and tourism promotion, the collaboration is expected to support the technical development of football in Rwanda by granting young players and coaches access to Atletico de Madrid's world-class expertise and training programs. Visit Rwanda is the tourism arm of the RDB, which spearheads Rwanda's economic transformation by enabling private sector-led growth. UNI XINHUA GNK
Bloomberg
30-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Atletico Madrid Partners With Rwanda as Feud With Congo Simmers
Rwanda signed a three-year commercial partnership with Spanish football club Atletico Madrid to promote its Visit Rwanda brand amid criticism of the country's role in a conflict in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. Under the agreement, Visit Rwanda will become the club's official training and tourism destination partner, and coffee supplier, the Rwanda Development Board Chief Executive Officer Jean-Guy Afrika said in a statement.
