The Esports Gaming Rally in Kigali, Rwanda, brought together gaming, education, and community through one of the country’s first larger scale esports events. As Event Manager, I oversaw the planning and on site delivery of the event, coordinating equipment, activities, schedules, and volunteer roles to ensure a smooth experience for participants and attendees.

A key element of the event was the involvement of students from Academic Esports at the University of Agder. Students contributed to the planning and execution of activities as part of their coursework, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge from the programme directly within a live international event environment. Supporting students in bridging academic learning with practical experience remains one of the most meaningful aspects of these projects.

The rally also required close collaboration with partners and institutions across multiple countries. Coordinating planning and logistics across time zones strengthened my experience in international project coordination, communication, and stakeholder management, whilst reinforcing the importance of cross institutional cooperation when developing esports initiatives in emerging regions.

Delivering the event demonstrated how esports can act as a platform where education, technology, and community engagement intersect. It also highlighted the potential for academic esports initiatives to contribute to skills development and new opportunities in growing gaming ecosystems.