African BMX Championships come to Bulawayo

Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
The Confederation of African Cycling (CAC) has offered the National BMX Association of Zimbabwe hosting rights for this year’s African Continental Championships (Afcon) with Busters Cycle Park in Bulawayo being the venue for the event.

The two-day event is scheduled for September 3 to 4 and will see athletes from around the African continent and some international ‘elites’ compete in the prestigious championship.

“The Confederation of African Cycling awarded Zimbabwe the privilege of hosting this important event of the International Cycling calendar,” said Cycling Zimbabwe president Norman Bourne in a statement.

In a statement, Bourne said this would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the sport of BMX in Zimbabwe and to expose athletes of all ages to international competitors.

The participating clubs and athletes appeal for assistance that would help them in upgrading their race tracks to be in line with international standards.

“The members and athletes from National Body, Harare BMX Club, Bike Addicts and Busters BMX and Cycle Park would greatly appreciate any assistance that can be given towards the upgrade of their racetracks to be compliant with international standards,” said Bourne.

The wishlist of the clubs includes tarring of the berms to maintain their specific shape for safe racing, decomposed sand for the tracks, building sand for upgrades to structures, cement for building structures and extra ablution facilities, grandstands for additional spectator seating.

Other items on the wishlist are security fencing for safe parking of spectators and athletes, upgrade of track lighting system, start hill paving blocks for alterations, upgrade of start gate mechanism to meet international requirements and accommodation options for all athletes and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) officials.

“This is a very important African International event that attracts top athletes from around the African continent,” said the statement from the cycling president.