History in the making as Kigali hosts 2024 FIA Prize Giving Gala

• Kigali will host the 2024 FIA Prize Giving ceremony in what is a historic event in the world of F1
• This is the first time that the event will take place on African soil
• The historic 2024 FIA Prize Giving Gala will take place on December 13

Kigali will host the 2024 FIA Prize Giving ceremony in what is a historic event in the world of F1.

This is the first time that the event will take place on African soil, having been held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2023. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was presented with his third World Championship trophy at the Gala in Baku which has been hosting the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2016.

2024 FIA Prize Giving in Kigali

The historic 2024 FIA Prize Giving Gala will take place on December 13 in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. This event is scheduled to commence with proceedings of the FIA Annual General Assembly from December 9 through to the day of the Gala.

Kigali Convention Centre will host the FIA. In a post on X, the motorsport regulatory body expressed excitement about hosting this event.

“10 years have gone so fast! The upcoming 2024 FIA Prize Giving ceremony marks a significant milestone as it will be hosted on the African continent for the first time ever. Save the date and join us in Kigali, Rwanda, on the 13th of December 2024,” the post read.

2023 FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku. Photo/Reddit

Led by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA confirmed Kigali as the host city after long bidding by different cities. However, for a change, the Gala will debut in Africa, hopefully being the start of many more in the coming years.

Why is the FIA Prize Giving Important?

The FIA Prize Giving is an important event in the motorsport industry because it recognizes and celebrates the accomplishments of drivers, teams, and officials from many racing disciplines.

For starters, it serves as a forum for recognising and celebrating greatness in racing, emphasizing the dedication and talent of people and teams who excelled throughout the season.

Secondly, the Gala promotes solidarity among the worldwide motorsport stakeholders globally by bringing together competitors from various backgrounds and disciplines. This event allows contestants, officials, sponsors, and stakeholders to network and collaborate.

Furthermore, it encourages the ideals of fair play, sportsmanship, and safety in motorsport. Also, it is a platform that emphasizes the need to maintain integrity and respect in the motoring industry.

Lastly, the FIA Prize Giving gives the federation a forum to discuss its goals, plans, and priorities for the development of racing. It offers a chance to acknowledge technological, sustainable, and inclusive developments in the sport, as well as problems and chances for improvement.

Since its beginning, the gala has mostly taken place in European cities, but it has also been hosted in places like New Delhi and Doha.

How Was the 2023 FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku?

Max VERSTAPPEN, FIA Formula One World Champion 2023 in Baku at the FIA Prize Giving Gala.. Photo Julien Delfosse / DPPI

F1 team drivers, staff and leaders expressed excitement at the chosen venue of the event. However, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton who is joining Ferrari in 2025 said that although he enjoyed how the city it wasn’t necessary to keep the Gala on a rotational basis.

“Whilst I really like Baku – it’s really a beautiful place – I have questions in my mind whether the FIA is really actually thinking about sustainability,” RacingNews365 reported.

He suggested that the FIA Prize Giving event stick to Paris where it is domiciled. The 39-year-old still admitted that the arena was amazing and it made the whole event a success.

“Because so many people flew out here, when the FIA is actually in Paris and it would have just been easier to have it there. But it’s a beautiful arena. It’s a night that we all get to come together and celebrate all the amazing achievements from all the great people that are working within the sport and all the amazing drivers that I wouldn’t get to see during the year as well,” he added.

With the event being held in Rwanda, there are hopes that there could be a Grand Prix in South Africa added to the circuit.

The last Grand Prix was held in South Africa in 1993 and the African country has been lobbying for consideration to be included in the F1 calendar.