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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
TEAM Zimbabwe Chef de Mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Ringisai Mapondera, says his interaction with counterparts from other countries have been an eye opener on some of the aspects local sport can improve on.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are scheduled for July 26 to August 11.
So far five athletes — Isaac Mpofu, Rutendo Nyahora, Tapiwa Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba (athletics), and Stephen Cox (rowing) have qualified for the upcoming global multi-sport event. Some of the issues he believes can contribute to the betterment of sport include data capturing, which could assist in the full utilisation of Zimbabwean talent.
“What struck me most was the issue of data capturing, following up on our athletes,” Mapondera said.
“It’s scientific, there is no magic about the numbers that then end up in Paris 2024. We simply need to have our records in check, we simply need to keep a tab on our athletes.
“Zimbabwe has been blessed that we have got several athletes that are out there, all over the world. We need to develop a system to tap into these athletes and keep track of them, over and above what national federations are doing.
“So as Zimbabwe Olympic Committee that will be one of our major priority things to do, to have our database as Zimbabwe Olympic Committee of athletes whether they will be in swimming, where we follow-up on them ourselves than solely relying on national federations.
“I am not saying that is what is there but perhaps the scope of the national federation will be concentrating on locals whereas you have several people who are out there who are performing much better than those that you have that are known to the local community,” said Mapondera.
On the scientific approach to sport, Mapondera said it could make a difference in ensuring athletes get the required and necessary support covering various aspects that contribute to their success.
“And also, the issue of having scientific sports centres. That is critical.
“It’s more of approaching sport as a science. Currently Zimbabwe Olympic Committee have got an agreement with South Africa on scientific sports where we can tap into what they already have.
“You have centres where you have research. We can maximise with NUST which also looks specifically into the sport, they have a specific department there. “But it needs to be equipped and supported by having a national sports centre.
“For instance, like now we have people who have qualified and they go to the National Sports Stadium, to run, it’s just him and the coach and perhaps the medic.
“There is no support base of specialists, who look into what this guy (athlete) is eating, what he needs to do to get to the level other than what the coach is prescribing, equipment, gyms, and all that. “All that comes into where if we can have a centre equipped with these things where athletes can access for free.
“I am talking of athletes that are maybe podium performance athletes,” said Mapondera.
He pointed out that such facilities also help ease the burden on athletes, who sometimes have to fork out their resources to access better and modern training facilities.
“Costs are very prohibitive. Most of the facilities we have here in Zimbabwe at the moment are privately-owned and athletes always have to fork out money to be able to be in there.”
Online Reporter