F1, Rwanda announce creation of African Grand Prix

Back on the starting grid, after a 33-year wait, Rwanda is set to host Africa's first Formula One Grand Prix since 1993, a recognition of the continent's long-standing contribution to global elite sports, according to President Paul Kagame. For decades, African athletes have been a pillar of the global sports economy, with the continent receiving almost nothing in return. This partnership is long overdue. Kagame, who's been chasing a Grand Prix race for years, formally announced Rwanda's bid in December 2024 and finally secured the decade-long deal with Formula 1 on Tuesday. Yet fans will have to wait a while longer, with the future circuit still in the planning stages and expected to be completed in the early 2030s. Its designers have already laid out their vision to build a fast-flowing track that will feature an elevation gain of nearly 200 meters, giving races a rollercoaster feel. The announcement will have delighted one of the sport's biggest stars, seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton, who's long advocated for an African stop on the F1 circuit. The Formula One group also hailed the decision and said it would help tap into the continent's enthusiasm for the sport. Africa is home to more than 100 million fans of Formula One, And that community continues to grow at an extraordinary pace. For many years, we have spoken about our desire to return, but always said we would return in the right way, with the right vision and the right partner. That partner is Rwanda. Under Paul Kagame, Rwanda has invested heavily in elite sports, including through lavish sponsorship deals with the likes of PSG, Arsenal and the NBA. The country has been accused of trying to distract from alleged human rights abuses, with Amnesty International describing the latest Formula One deal as a sports-washing prize for Kagame.