THE first Olympic sporting event ever to be held in Africa has been a long time in the making, but the Dakar Youth Olympics will deliver despite a four-year postponement, International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry has said.
Senegal is the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event, with the Youth Games opened yesterday. About 2 700 athletes, aged 14-17, from 204 national Olympic committees are expected to take part.
The Games, which were officially opened last night, are running to November 13, and were initially set for 2022, but had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zimbabwe will be fielding a 12-member team across seven sport codes.
“It’s here. We are so happy. This has been a long time in the making,” Coventry told a press conference in Dakar after inspecting the venues and the athletes’ village ahead of yesterday’s opening ceremony.
“We have gotten all the big milestones under way.”
Coventry, a former Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, is the first African to lead the organisation, having been elected in 2025.
Dakar Games organisers said they had to deal with last-minute energy and rain issues, but have given the green light for the start with more than 6 000 volunteers helping in the organisation.
Security will also be considerable and will include Spanish and French police officers with experience from the 2024 Paris Olympics, organisers said.
Team Zimbabwe
Athletics: Prudence Kasuwa, Tanatswa Mugwidi, Ropafadzo Mzondo. Cycling: Rohnan Nicholson. Equestrian: Terry Angelos. Judo: Makanaka Nherera. Swimming: Alexis Johnsen, Daniella Viki, Connor Grist, Kwandokuhle Nkomazana. Rowing: Arianna Robinson. Triathlon: Rachel O’Donoghue.
Coaches: Athletics: Letwin Kudakwashe.
Cycling: Elsie Mahumbe. Equestrian: Ricky Johnstone. Judo: Lazarus Arufandika. Swimming: Lindsy Tudor-Cole. Rowing: Kerrie Zaal (coach), Tommee Ka Bo (boat handler). Triathlon: Pamela Fulton. — Reuters/Zimpapers Sports Hub
