Formula 1 is returning to Africa after a break of more than 30 years. Rwanda has signed a 10-year hosting agreement, and the African Grand Prix will join the series once the new track is complete at Bugesera, 40km south of the capital Kigali.
Rwanda has been using sport to bolster its global image for some time, principally through Visit Rwanda's sponsorship of Arsenal FC, although that deal ended in the summer. The country's tourist board also has commercial deals with Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid, as well as the NBA's LA Clippers and the LA Rams in the NFL. Under President Paul Kagame, Rwanda has sought to position itself as a premium destination for international travel, with Big Five safaris in Akagera National Park and daily gorilla trekking passes in Volcanoes National Park costing $1,500.
The future races will take place at the RISE Motordrome, a broader infrastructure project that its architects say will be a "catalyst for a new international destination combining sport, entertainment, hospitality, tourism and visitor experiences". The approach follows a well-trodden path, as Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia all joined the F1 calendar during periods of national rebranding. Rwanda does not share the petrodollar wealth of the Middle East, but Qatar, a close ally, is the majority owner of the new international airport in Bugesera and paid to build it.
Like the Gulf states, Rwanda has faced accusations of using sport to distract from its human rights failings at home and its military entanglements across the border in the DR Congo. Amnesty International described the F1 deal as a "sportswashing prize for the Rwandan authorities".
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing