The Climate Action Tournament was commended for promoting environmental awareness through sports and community engagement.
The Director General of the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Juliet Kabera, has praised the growing role of sports in advancing environmental awareness as Police VC in the men’s category and RRA WVC in the women’s category were crowned champions of the Climate Action Volleyball Tournament 2026, which concluded in Gisagara on May 30, 2026, after two days of highly competitive matches featuring some of Rwanda’s top volleyball clubs.
The tournament, organized by the Rwanda Volleyball Federation (FRVB) in partnership with REMA, formed part of Environment Week activities in Rwanda and served as a strategic platform promoting climate action and environmental protection through sports. It brought together leading teams from the 2025–2026 volleyball season, with matches staged across Gisagara and Huye districts, drawing strong public interest and highlighting both talent and discipline on the court.
In the women’s final, RRA WVC faced Police WVC in a dramatic five-set thriller that kept fans engaged from start to finish. RRA WVC started strongly, winning the first two sets 26–24 and 25–22, and looked firmly in control of the match.
Therefore, Police WVC responded with determination and tactical adjustment, fighting back to claim the third and fourth sets 25–15 and 25–23, leveling the contest at 2–2. In the decisive fifth set, RRA WVC held their nerve under pressure and secured a 15–11 victory, sealing the championship with a 3–2 set win.
In the men’s final, Police VC and REG VC delivered another intense, emotionally charged encounter, marked by momentum shifts and high-level play. REG VC dominated the opening stages, winning the first two sets 25–19 and 25–18, and appeared to be on course for victory.
However, Police VC mounted a strong and disciplined comeback, taking the third and fourth sets 25–23 and 25–22 to level the match at 2–2. In the decisive fifth set, Police VC maintained composure, showed experience under pressure, and closed the match with a 15–11 win to complete a remarkable 3–2 comeback victory and lift the trophy.
Beyond the competition, the tournament carried a strong environmental message, with organizers emphasizing the need to use sports as a channel for climate awareness. Activities around the event included community engagement sessions, environmental education messaging, and participation in Rwanda Environment Week initiatives in Gisagara District, where residents and stakeholders were involved in practical conservation activities.
REMA DG Juliet Kabera said the tournament reflects the increasing importance of integrating environmental messaging into public and youth-centered platforms such as sports. She noted that athletes play a crucial role in influencing behavior change, especially among young people who closely follow sports personalities.
“We’ve seen that working with sports teams is very effective. That is why we signed an MOU with the Volleyball Federation in Rwanda so that wherever they go for competitions, messages related to environmental protection are delivered,” she said.
She further noted that the initiative starts with players themselves, so they understand the importance of protecting the environment, while also inspiring young people who look up to them to embrace environmental conservation values.
She further emphasized that the initiative is part of a broader national strategy to mainstream environmental awareness, adding that similar partnerships will continue to expand across other sports disciplines. She highlighted that the collaboration is not limited to volleyball and expressed confidence that REMA will continue to engage other sports federations in advancing environmental protection and climate awareness across the country.
The tournament also marked key environmental milestones, including the closure of Phase One of the Green Amayaga Project, which has contributed to ecosystem restoration and improved land management over the past six years, as well as the official launch of Phase Two aimed at strengthening climate resilience and expanding reforestation efforts in the region.
The Climate Action Volleyball Tournament 2026 highlighted both the rising competitiveness of Rwandan volleyball and the growing integration of sports into national climate action and environmental education campaigns.
Police VC and RRA WVC each received 4 million Rwandan Francs for winning their respective categories, while REG VC and Police WVC finished as runners-up and received 3 million Rwandan Francs. Gisagara VC and RP Huye WVC, which secured third place, were awarded 1.5 million Rwandan Francs each.
The Climate Action Volleyball Tournament 2026 further demonstrated Rwanda’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability into national development, using sports as a practical platform to raise awareness and inspire collective action on climate change.
Patrik Niyonkuru
