adminPetros Kausiyo and Fatima Bulla
SEASONED administrator and Zimbabwe Olympic Committee president Admire Masenda believes the local media could take Zimbabwean sport to a higher level by leading the debate and highlighting key issues affecting the industry in the country .Masenda told journalists attending a two-day ZOC forum for Sports journalists in the country yesterday that they had a significant role to play to drive sport in the country and help the sporting industry achieve its full potential to become a major employer.
The ZOC president and basketball coach, made the remarks while officially opening the forum at the national Olympic body’s headquarters in Harare yesterday.
“Our expectation is to see and hear more of journalists on what is going on in the sporting world. ZOC is pleased to host this small but significant workshop in its bid to make an all round positive difference through it’s programmes and activities.
“We hope to enlighten you on the role of the organisation as well as highlight important and progressive aspects in sport such as developments in sport science and the anti-doping aspect.
“This activity is aligned to the ZOC strategic objectives of capacity development to facilitate the inclusion of sports journalists in at least eight technical courses for coaches and administration courses by 2015,” Masenda said.
The workshop which is being attended by 25 journalists from different media organisations in the print and electronic, is aimed at raising awareness and dissemination of accurate information with regards some of the Olympic programmes.
ZOC chief executive Anna Mguni, expressed optimism that both the media and her organization would benefit from the close interaction between the parties during the workshop.
In getting the opening day’s session underway Mguni also outlined how ZOC in conjunction with the various international federations, secured scholarships for athletes ahead of the Olpmpic Games.
Sport and Recreation Commission director-general, Charles Nhemachena in his presentation, spoke of the supreme sports body’s role and revealed that government was currently working on crafting a national sport policy that would help address some of the major challenges such as funding which had hamstrung development in every association affiliated to them.
Nhemachena said the setting up of a stand- alone sports ministry by the government had brought with it great optimism that sport in the country would receive greater appreciation at Cabinet level.
Online Reporter