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Our Champion for Peace

VENUSTE NIYONGABO

All you need are rules, like in sport and where there are rules there’s respect, when there’s respect, there’s peace.

Atlanta 1996 – Vénuste became the first and only Olympic gold medal-winner in the history of Burundi in the 5000m run.
Selected favourite in the 1500m, he decided to give his place to his compatriot who wasn’t able to take part in the previous Olympics as Burundi was not part of the Olympic family yet.
He’s been an active member of the Champions for Peace club since 2009 and he is the figurehead of the Friendship Games in the Great Lakes region of Africa.

Country

Burundi

sport

Athletics - MIDDLE DISTANCE

Achievements

Olympian
Olympic Champion

African Great Lakes

Patron of the Great Lakes African Friendship Games

Champion for Peace Vénuste Niyongabo is the Patron of the Friendship Games. “The Friendship Games between Burundi, Rwanda et DR Congo are important to build bridges between the communities and to create dialogues between different areas of those countries. This event promotes local differences and helps to promote sport as a tool for social empowerment and peace.