admin
Sports Reporter
PARA athletes have received a major boost after Unilever, through their Domestos brand, penned a partnership deal with their incubation and nurturing centre at Danhiko.
Danhiko Project houses at least 150 para-athletes in boarding facilities while those from outside this centre often converge there for further talent development and major competitions.
The athletes stand to benefit in their bid to qualify for next year’s Paralympics after Unilever extended its hand to help out the centre.
In addition to taking care of the athletes’ sanitary and general health requirements, Unilever will also chip in towards the well-being of the sportspersons.
Speaking during the handover of refurbished ablution facilities at Danhiko yesterday, Unilever managing director Tendai Takaindisa said her company was keen to see differently-abled people live in a clean environment and have an equal chance to do well in every facet of life including sport.
“We want to promote inclusivity in terms of everything. We have partnered with the Danhiko Project to help in every way we can.
“We have renovated their ablution facilities first and we are now getting to help the para-athletes,” she said.
“We know that sanitary is of utmost importance as deaths from related illnesses are increasing by the day globally. So having a clean environment helps increase confidence in these athletes and they will be able to perform to their maximum potential”.
Danhiko Project deputy director who is also the Zimbabwe Paralympic Committee president Witness Magulula said the gesture by Unilever, which is also in line with the Government’s thrust of leaving no place and no one behind, will go a long way in helping para athletes.
“This gesture by Unilever will benefit para-athletes who converge here for events such as the Danhiko Games that are held here annually.
“So it means that we’ll have a cleaner environment when they come as athletes with disabilities. This gesture is national in its scope and we are happy that para-athletes will benefit a lot from the partnership,” said Magulula.
“We are trying to attend qualifiers for the 2024 Paralympics and we are currently in the process of identifying athletes who will attend those qualifying events and the selection process will happen early next year.
“It will happen throughout the country. So we are currently preoccupied with preparations for those events.
“Those athletes who will be picked from the selection events will represent the country in the qualifiers which will be held in Dubai (Dubai Grand Prix in February) and Tunis, Tunisia in March ahead of the Games which are set for August 2024”.
Online Reporter