Feel them, they’re here!

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE government through the then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, in November 2012 signed a Protocol Agreement to host the Supreme Council of Sport in Africa (SCSA) Zone VI 2014 Under-20 Youth Games.
The Zone VI, now the Region 5 Games, are held under the auspices of the African Union, and Zimbabwe was selected to host the 2014 Games for the Sadc region in December.

They are for athletes who are under 20 years of age and are held every two years and are a sports platform aimed at improving the development of sport in the Sadc region in preparation for higher continental and global sport competitions.

It was up to Zimbabwe to choose the host city for these Games and two were in contention, Harare and Bulawayo.

“I’m pleased to announce that Cabinet on the 21st May 2013 unanimously agreed to accept my proposal that the 2014 Zone VI Under-20 Games be held in Bulawayo. I should stress that this decision enjoyed support from all three parties to the inclusive government and I’m grateful for the support given to my proposal in particular by His Excellency, President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru, Right Honourable Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Minister Welshman Ncube and Minister of Finance Tendai Biti.

“The sporting disciplines set to be hosted by the Games in Bulawayo are athletics, boxing, basketball, netball, tennis, swimming, football and judo. In compliance with this Cabinet decision to host the Games in Bulawayo, the Government of Zimbabwe will rehabilitate the sporting facilities at the selected venues in time for December 2014.

“The major negative point against Bulawayo being able to host the Games was the absence of a suitable Games Village to house the 4,000 athletes.

However, it was argued that the Games provided a unique opportunity to address the lack of residential accommodation at Nust which at present can only accommodate 32 students although it has a student body of several thousand. Accordingly, a key component of the decision is the construction of halls of residence at the National University of Science and Technology which will be used as the Games Village. The Games Village will be sited on the Nust Campus to accommodate over 4,000 young men and women sportspersons. After the Games have been concluded the Games Village will be handed over to Nust and will then provide residential accommodation for some 4,000 students with effect from January 2015.

“In addition a wide variety of existing sports facilities in Bulawayo will be upgraded as is set out below. The total estimated investment by Government is the sum of $42 million, the bulk of which will be spent on the Games Village/Residences for Nust. The decision by Cabinet to host such an illustrious international sport tournament is very commendable and derives legacy benefits for the host city Bulawayo. Most importantly this decision will expand Zimbabwe’s capacity to host future games of such magnitude in both Harare and Bulawayo. This therefore presents Zimbabwe with high chances of successfully bidding for other bigger regional and international tournaments.”

This statement was released by then Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart on May 23, 2013.

By then no one, including many media houses, believed that the Games, huge as they normally are, could indeed be brought to Bulawayo, especially at a time the country was going through a very difficult economic route.

Many, including Temba Mliswa, the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Art and Culture, wondered why the powers that be did not take these Games to Harare which already had the infrastructure. It was almost an impossible dream but alas exactly 16 months down the line, Bulawayo is ready to play host to these Games.

Barbourfields, Luveve and White City stadia have received a permanent facelift that will be a legacy of these Games. Even the Games’ regional chairperson, Mvuzo Mbebe, quipped during a tour of venues on Tuesday that Barbourfields Stadium was now ready to play host to Afcon.

Now 16 months later, one can actually touch the excitement that has engulfed the residents of this great city ahead of the sporting showpiece that gets underway on December 5 and ends on December 15.

One cannot help but borrow the 2010 South Africa war song about the World Cup, “Feel it, it’s here.” It’s the same for Bulawayo and Zimbabwe in general, “Feel them, they’re here!”

For two weeks, the city will come to a virtual standstill as more than 1,300 athletes from 11 different countries compete in nine different sport codes.

Their coming to Bulawayo will not only be felt by sportspersons but downstream sectors as well, hence the need for everyone to embrace these Games and indeed, feel them because they are here!