"In my eyes, this is not sportswashing" - 2025 World Championships organiser under fire of criticism for "sponsoring" war in Congo

The 2025 World Championships in Rwanda are supposed to be a great celebration of the growth of African cycling as the biggest cycling event is to visit the continent for the first time in history. However a heavy cloud is hanging over the country at the moment as civil conflict escalates in Congo - and Rwandan government is openly supporting the Rebel Army M23.

"There is no harm in starting this discussion," says Gert Van Goolen of Golazo in De Afspraak. "Only in this story we are a subcontractor of the local cycling federation. Above all, the World Championship is still an organization of the (International Cycling Union) UCI. They are closely monitoring the situation in Rwanda and we are listening to them."

According to Van Goolen, there is currently no reason to pull the plug on the World Cup, although he does not rule out that this could change in the future. "It is possible that the war in Eastern Congo will have an influence. The conflict has been going on in that region for a long time, it has only escalated very recently. We still have to see how it will develop."

Rwanda has scored poorly in various international reports for years. "The question is where you draw the line," says Van Goolen. "At what point do you say: 'this is no longer acceptable'? We need to think about this. You also shouldn't forget that this came about because they wanted to organize a World Championships on the African continent for the first time. A continent that is developing. Cycling is growing enormously there, just look at Girmay."

But isn't Golazo being used in this way - albeit indirectly - to prop up a dubious regime? "In my eyes, this is not sportswashing," says Van Goolen. "The money we get doesn't come from a dictator either. We are paid by the African Cycling Federation. I've heard many stories from people who have been there or live there, and they are stories about a beautiful country that is developing strongly. Surely it's not wrong to advertise tourism in your country?"