Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019

TIAS visit of Secretary General Uganda Olympic Committee – Dr. DonaldRukare, President Uganda Swimming Federation : March 23rd-27th, 2019
March 23rd to 27th, 2019, marked the visit by Dr. Donald RUKARE, Secretary General –Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC, http://nocuganda.org/about-us/executive-committee/) andCommonwealth Games Association Uganda, and Vice President – African Swimming
Federation (CANA), and President – CANA Zone III), and President Uganda Swimming
Federation (USF, http://ugandaswimming.stream/). Donald is also the FINA (FederationInternationale de Natation) – International Swimming Federation, Bureau Member(http://www.fina.org/gms-function/fina-bureau). Previously, meeting Dr. Rukare, in Dec 2018, atthe ANOC Tokyo meeting of all NOCs, along with President of the UOC, Mr. William Blick,
and with a 4th batch TIAS student Mr. Tonnie Kasujja (http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/wpcontent/uploads/2019/03/TIAS-Student_NIFISA-9th-Seminar2019_REPORT.pdf), a swimming coach,and mutual shared interest in international Sports education and training, Prof. Randeep
Rakwal extended, on behalf of TIAS, a visit to University of Tsukuba (UT).

The invitation and visit objectives were: a) Guest of Honor at the graduation of the TIAS 3rdbatch students and make a commencement speech, b) Guest Lecture for the TIAS 4th batch
Master’s students, and c) Exploring Potential Collaboration/Partnership between TIAS (andTAIIKU) and the Uganda Olympic Committee/Uganda Swimming Federation as part of TIAS
Academic Legacy involving its students and international cooperation through sport byJapan Sport Experts.
1Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019

First, TIAS appreciates a wonderful commencement speech, congratulations, and words ofwisdom to the graduating 3rd batch TIAS students; March 23rd, 2019.

Following the speeches by Prof. SANADA and Mr. Masahide KATSUMATA, Director of theOlympic
andParalympic
Games
Division,
Japan
SportsAgency(JSA,
http://www.mext.go.jp/sports/en/index.htm), Donald spoke on – Looking to New Horizons.
To quote, Dr. Rukare, “During my presentation I noted that the graduates were graduating
at a very interesting time in the sporting arena which is dealing with implementation of theOlympic agenda 2020, doping cases, governance/corruption cases, emergence of private
professional leagues and the rapid growth of e-sports. I encouraged the graduates toembrace integrity and accountability, building networks with their TIAS colleagues, put into2

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019practice the knowledge their have gained at TIAS, put athletes at the heart of what they doand live the Olympic values of respect, friendship and excellence”.
and,withTonnie
andAssociate
Professor
Y.
SENGOKU(AcademicSupervisor, &HeadCoach,Swimming, UT)Second, Dr. Donald RUKARE together with Prof. Rakwal made a courtesy call to the
Chairman of TIAS, Prof Hisashi SANADA (http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/about-tias/), Faculty of
Health and Sport Sciences (https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/people-list/tsukuba-frontier-24),
and who is also the Director of CORE (Centre for Olympic Research and Education,
http://core.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/) and Committee Member of the Culture and Education
Commission for the Tokyo 2020 Games (The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympicand Paralympic Games; https://tokyo2020.org/en/organising-committee/structure/cultureeducation-commission/). Thanking Prof. Sanada for the invitation, Donald expressed his
deep interest in future collaboration with TIAS and UT; March 24th, 2019.

Third, being from the USF and FINA, the next stop was at the SWIMMING POOL Complex,
University of Tsukuba; and, where Donald was once again welcomed by the Swimming Head
Coach – Dr. Yasuo Sengoku (Associate Prof. at TIAS and Faculty member of the Institute ofHealth and Sports Science) responsible for the swimming program; and joined by Tonnie
3Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019

Kasujja and Prof. Rakwal. Both these 2 swimmers/coaches/administrators discussed on the‘swimming at Tsukuba (Japan) and Uganda’. Donald pointed out that “they would likeguidance/assistance in (1) developing a national coach selection criteria (2) putting in placea national coaching certification program (3) conducting coaching clinics in Uganda by TIAS
staff (4) possible equipment support”. Dr. Sengoku agreed to explore these options and we
discussed the possibility of having Tonnie and interested Japanese students to do somepreliminary research on the above points, and also Prof. Rakwal wishes to explore thepossibility of going to Uganda with TIAS on a project in the summer of 2019, linking withprevious TIAS alumni in Rwanda and Tanzania with Uganda, as an East-Africa TIAS Legacy
Project. Continuing the tour of the swimming pool complex, Dr. Sengoku explained themain pool training and research facilities, with high-performance tools (such as theIgarashi Swim Mill) and techniques to improve the Japanese swimmers at University ofTsukuba Swim Team.

Fourth, Dr. Rukare, being an professional with teaching experience, gave an informative andexciting lecture to the TIAS 4th batch students, titled- ‘Sports Governance; Challenges andOpportunities‘, covering the following topics of – “sports organs/ architecture, the role of
the Annual General Assembly (AGM), legitimacy through the membership, recognition
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Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019

through affiliations, conflict and conflict resolution – CAS and the court system, conflict ofinterest, electing and selecting governing boards, professionalization and the role of theGeneral Secretary, constitutional Order – Term limits or no term limits?, role of women andathletes – Do we need special commission to hear their voice?, Corruption and sports andsports and human rights”. In all, a well-received presentation with active Q&A anddiscussions by the student’s, and attending Professors, going over the allotted time.

(at GSI building, 3rd floor –TIAS Guest Lecture, by Dr.
DonaldRukare;and,5Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019

discussions and views were exchanged were also held with Associate Prof. Alexis Lyras on
the promotion of Olympic values and education initiatives and sport for development andpeace, one of the expertise of Lyras sensei.

A short visit to the symbol of Tsukuba-city, Mt. Tsukuba was also made to introduce thenatural beauty, spirit and culture of Japan.
Finally, the visit was concluded, by a meeting with Prof. Rakwal and Tonnie Kasujja andDonald to discuss possible collaboration /partnership areas between TIAS and UOC/USF.
The following points were raised and recorded for future steps. “A memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) outlining areas of collaboration and responsibilities of both parties
would be developed”, and where the following topics could be included as –“a) Conducting coaching programs ( Training of Trainers –TOT program),b) Conduct a national anti-doping education program as well as sports science andmedicine sessions,c) Provide equipment to USF and other federations,d) Identify possible students to purse Masters programs at TIAS,e) Training opportunities for students,

6Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2019f) Sports science/fitness rehabilitation/high performance center,g) Exchange interns (Swimming and synchronized support),h) Assist and development of youth development and training center to be located in anagreed place,i) Ensure visibility of the events in Uganda pertaining to all TIAS programs,j) A program of activities for 2019 would be developed for the East Africa project (Rwanda,Tanzania, Uganda),k) Conduct Olympic education studies and sports for development programs including
Paralympics (embedding Design, implementing and evaluating),l) Sports science research support, andm) Joint research publications”.

Prof. Rakwal is now working to develop the East Africa TIAS Legacy Projects, and a visit toUganda is also being discussed for the summer of 2019. Thank you TIAS and TAIIKU andUniversity of Tsukuba, and Thank you Donald. Thank you also, the TIAS Office Staffs,
especially Ms. Nao Oyama for the logistics support and Ms. Hirose for the lecturearrangements.

2019-05-20

Dr. Randeep RAKWAL, Ph.D.
Professor,
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies (TIAS),
Global Sport Innovation Bldg., Room 403,
UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA,
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan
Email - plantproteomics@gmail.com - rakwal.randeep.fu@u.tsukuba.ac.jp (office)
Mobile – (+81) 090-1853-7875 / Office phone – (+81)029-853-2681
Website: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp / http://www.trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/0000003045

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