Is Team Zim ready to deliver?

question, however, remains: Are these athletes ready to deliver at this major sporting showcase and bring the medals home?
In the past two editions of the Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece (2004) and Beinjing, China (2008), Zimbabwe got their seven medals through one athlete — swimming icon Kirsty Coventry.
This has led many to view our participation at the event as a mere fulfillment rather than showing brilliance that can bring fully fledged nationwide celebrations as was the case in 1980 when women’s hockey team won the gold medal in Moscow, Russia.
Zimbabwe’s medals from the Olympic Games have come mostly from swimming sensation Coventry and many are tipping her to repeat the same feat given that another medal hopeful Ngonidzashe Makusha might not make it to the London 2012 due to injury.
Makusha raptured his Achilles tendon during a training session at his Florida base in the United States last month and underwent surgery at Tallahasse in Florida.
He is currently in rehabilitation.
Athletes that have qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games are Coventry, triathlete Chris Felgate, marathon runners Sharon Tavengwa, Cutbert Nyasango, Wirimai Juwawo, Gilbert Mutandiro and two rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Fraser McKenzie and more could still join this list as they have up to the beginning of July to qualify.
Busi Chindove, who is the chef de mission of Team Zimbabwe for the 2012 London Olympic Games, feels that more medals will come Zimbabwe’s way as all these athletes in Team Zimbabwe qualified with an “A” standard for their respective disciplines.
“We are happy with the number of athletes we have for the Games because these athletes distinguished themselves and qualified with ‘A’ standards which means we are taking the cream of our athletes to the Games since it’s not about the number but quality and thus we can expect medals from these athletes,” said Chindove.
Chindove’s appointment as chef de mission of Team Zimbabwe for the London Games came after she successfully led the country in the same capacity at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games held in Singapore in August 2010.
Thus, she is expected to use the same experience she gained during that time to steer Zimbabwe to more glory.
Chindove has refused to put all the hopes for honours on an individual, arguing that all the athletes that have qualified have equal chances of bringing home medals “for as long they have our support”.
“Participation at any Olympic Games is premised on the fact that an athlete need to have competed and qualified at the very pinnacle of world sporting achievement. So, anyone participating at the Games can truly say they are among the best in the world in their disciplines.
“Thus we are proud of the fact that Zimbabwe does have athletes who are among the world’s best and each of them is going to the Olympics with the intention of coming back with a medal and we support them in their quest to achieve that.
“We have also realised that not everyone can be a winner, so what we look at is for every athlete to do their best by winning medals or at least beating personal best times which is a major achievement in sport,” said Chindove.
She also said that the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee started preparing for these Games four years ago as they helped these athletes qualify by assisting them financially.
However, she reiterated that they are working on limited resources and has pleaded to the corporate world to assist in their preparations.
“ZOC started preparations for these Games four years ago and over these years we have been working with National Associations for the various disciplines with these athletes in their qualifiers.
“We are assisting those athletes who have qualified for the Games and they are training both locally and overseas with the support of ZOC. We want to ensure that these athletes get to their peak by the time we get to London in July.
“Our major setback, however, is that we have been working on very limited resources gathered from the Government and from the International Olympic Committee.
“We are still appealing to the local companies to assist us because we still have seven weeks to go and athlete preparations require financial resources.
“We are grateful to those local companies who have responded to our plea for assistance and those who are still considering our requests,” added Chindove.
The chef de mission of Team Zimbabwe feels if these athletes got the support from around the country it makes life easier for them as they will only be left to concentrate on winning medals.
“All Zimbabweans need to give support to these athletes and as an Olympic Committee, working together with the National Associations, we need to ensure that all their logistical arrangements, accommodation, travel and other things are in order so that they focus on preparing for the Games.
“I am also happy that we are working very closely with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) and I can confidently say we are happy with our state of preparedness.
“We have secured a sponsor for the competition kit but we still need a sponsor for the ceremonial kit, allowances for the athletes and some of the travel expenses.
“We also need funding for the athlete winning bonuses as you know recognition for winning any medals or surpassing a personal best is motivational,” added Chindove.
Chindove said she is very excited about the Games as she has a lot of confidence in Team Zimbabwe but urged the nation to rally behind the team in London.
“We appeal to all Zimbabweans to rally behind the team that is representing the country.
They need morale support as it’s a very physically, mentally and emotionally taxing experience and it’s easier for athletes to face the challenge when they know that their fellow countrymen are behind them.
“We will be opening a Facebook page this month where Zimbabweans can send the team their messages of goodwill.
Those who are interested in attending the Games can get in touch with ZOC who can give them information on how they can get their tickets for the Games,” Chindove concluded.