adminTHE 13th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games was launched in Mutare on Friday with the Minister of State for Manicaland Province Mandi Chimene urging stakeholders to support the annual event.
“These Games are a step towards transforming the lives of the youth, hence it becomes everyone’s responsibility to support them.
“I am aware that in 2005, we hosted the best Games. However, as a province we aim to surpass the standards that we set back then by hosting world class Games.
“This is only possible if all the stakeholders rally behind this noble cause, which we believe if well supported can create employment for our youth,” she said.
This year’s games are set to run from 15-23 August.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa expressed confidence that Manicaland will successfully host the Games.
“The Zimbabwe National Youth Games are an important development intervention which seeks to ensure that talented youth are identified and channelled for higher training and competition.
“So far I am happy with the work that has been done in this area, although we are yet to attract a corporate partner to help us run the Games. As Government, we are happy with the successes that has been achieved to date across all the provinces and these include the construction and renovation of sporting facilities. This is in sync with Zim-Asset and for this I wish to applaud all the stakeholders for a job well done,” he said.
The launch of the Games was preceded by a meeting between the Local Organising Committee, provincial general managers and the Sports and Recreation Commission.
SRC spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa said the meeting was meant to get an appreciation of the progress that the LOC has made in preparing for the games.
“The meeting also ratified the sport competition rules and the Games’ general rules. We emphasised to the provincial managers the need to adhere to the timeliness that was set so as to ensure that the Local Organising Committee can plan effectively and efficiently for the Games.
“This year’ s edition of the Games will also coincide with the celebrations of a decade since the inception of the Youth in Sport Conference. The conference aims at providing the provinces with an opportunity to discuss and make resolutions on a wide range of issues which affect them and this year’s theme of the conference is “Transforming lives through sport”,” he said.
Online Reporter