“Athletics older than Jesus”

Sikhumbuzo Moyo

Senior Sports Reporter

A senior education official in Matabeleland North has made sensational claims that athletics is older than Jesus Christ.

Speaking at the National Association of Primary Schools Heads (Naph) Matabeleland North physical education and athletics competitions at Mavela Secondary School in Tsholotsho last Friday, district education inspector Special Moyo shocked the audience by saying athletics existed before Jesus.

“Athletics is not a new sport. You will realise that the first Olympics in ancient Greece go as far back as the eighth or ninth century BC. To the Christians, let it be known to you that when Jesus was born, he found athletics already in existence,” said Moyo.

Moyo said the Olympics then included running, jumping, discus and javelin as well as wrestling making up the pentathlon.

“The running events included stades (Greek unit of measurement. The distance covered in the original Greek footraces was about 600 feet or 180M), which was essentially sprints from one end of the stadium to the other.”

He urged provincial athletes to take athletics seriously when competing in national, regional and international championships.

“Athletics provides opportunities. In other countries, top tier athletes often receive scholarships and at the same time continue with their athletics careers. For many, this could be their only opportunity to go to university and if this opportunity is taken advantage of, it can be life altering,” said Moyo.

Meanwhile, 58 athletes were selected to represent Matabeleland North province in the national finals set for Torwood Stadium in Redcliff next week.

According to Naph provincial chairman James Daka, the team went into camp at Nyamandlovu Primary School yesterday and will remain there until their departure for the Midlands.