"There are no such things in Africa": Israel Premier Tech inaugurated a bicycle center in Rwanda Israel today

An opening demonstration in front of more than a thousand amazed children.

Chris Froome (with tears in his eyes) and the Israeli riders inaugurated the "Field of Dreams" - the bicycle center of the "Israel Premier Tech" group in Rwanda.

Fromm, a native of the continent: "There are no such things in Africa. It's more exciting than a great victory."

 It was a somewhat delusional scene, but completely pulsating: in front of many hundreds of children, some of them cheering, others simply stunned by the spectacle, one of the greatest cyclists of the last generation, Chris Froome, along with the Israeli riders of the "Israel Premier Tech" team, competed against Rwandan boys and girls on paved race tracks Between banana plantations, clay houses, and a breathtaking view.  

The place: Bugasara region, a cluster of 600 poor villages south of the capital Kigali.

The event: the inauguration of the first bicycle center of its kind in Rwanda and in developing countries in the world, which was built in the last year by the Israeli professional bicycle group "Israel Premier Tech" with donations from the leaders of the group, its riders - and over a thousand of its fans in Israel and around the world.

The first center of its kind, photo: Israel Premier Tech

The construction of the center's two unique facilities was completed in the last few days - a 1.2 kilometer long racing and training track, and a spectacular "pump trek" track.

In front of a crowd of thousands who flocked from all over the region, the team's riders arrived, and when they were surrounded by team leaders Sylvan Adams and Ron Bar On, Israeli Ambassador Ron Adam and the heads of the World Cycling Association - they inaugurated the center that will give thousands of youth from the country the opportunity to practice this sport for the first time in their lives.

"Seeing these kids get to ride and shout with joy on amazing tracks - it's an excitement that doesn't fall from a great victory," said Froome who achieved quite a few huge victories in his life, including four wins in the Tour de France.

"The group has built something here that will change reality for many. I was born and raised in Kenya and know Africa well and I can say: there are no such things."

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Fromm, who didn't give up frolicking in the pump trek with the kids, seemed moved to the point of tears.  

The heads of the World Cycling Union who were present at the ceremony announced that they will give the center called "Field of Dreams" all the support required to hold races and training.

"This is a simply amazing facility," said the head of the African Development Unit of the World Union, Jean van Zyl.

"He will give a huge boost to bicycles in the country."

The completion of the construction of the "Field of Dreams" is the culmination of the "Riders to the Change" project initiated by the Israeli group in recent years in the Bugasara region of Rwanda, which began with the adoption and support of the country's first women's group.

The field of dreams in Rwanda, photo: Israel Premier Tech

The Israeli group received a huge plot of land on which the tracks were built, which in recent months have provided work for 2000 residents of the villages in the area.

In recent weeks, the group has already launched a program to train local guides led by an expert guide on the "Pump Trek" route sent from Israel.

"Kids just flock from all over the region in incredible numbers and ask to ride," said guide Israel Kaufman.

"It's a crazy experience."

The owners of "Israel Premier Tech" Sylvan Adams and Ron Bar-On announced that they intend to continue developing the "Field of Dreams" including the establishment of an academy: "We have a special commitment of shared destiny to this nation that went through a terrible massacre but got stronger and stronger," said Sylvan Adams.

"We are here to stay. This is fixing our world."

Not far from the new bicycle center, one of the shocking massacres took place when 2000 villagers were killed by grenades inside a church where they were hiding on April 15, 1994. One of the few survivors was Serge Gassor who was only 8 years old at the time after his grandmother protected him and was killed by the grenade thrown at them.

He managed to escape and later returned to establish a community center for the children of the area.

"Israel Premier Tech" established the "Field of Dreams" on the territory of the community center.

At the end of the ceremony, the team's riders placed flowers at the memorial site where the massacre took place.

"You have fulfilled the dream of the children of Bogasara" the survivor of the massacre acknowledged to the riders of the group and its leaders.

Tomorrow (Sunday) the Tour of Rwanda will start, an eight-day race across the length and breadth of the country.

Chris Froome will lead the team in the race, with two other young Israeli riders, Nadav Raisberg and Roy Weinberg, competing in the team.

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