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The Herald, 14 October, 1980
THERE is room for improvement in Zimbabwe’s sports facilities, the visiting president of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, Mr Abraham Ordia, says.
In an interview in Salisbury yesterday Mr Ordia said he was here to try to give Zimbabwe assistance and advice on running sport, and also to learn “something on sport administration in a new country”.
“Sporting facilities in independent Zimbabwe should be looked at, and from the little I have seen there is need for improvement”, he said. Ideas for improvement had been discussed with officials of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Recreation, in closed meetings.
Mr Ordia, who is on the fourth leg of a whirlwind tour of Africa, said he was perturbed that some newspapers thought he was conducting a campaign against the 1982 Commonwealth Games to be held in Brisbane. His visit should not be taken as a “campaign” against the Brisbane Games, he said, but wherever he went he was working “for peace in sport, and this starts by appealing to the voice of reason with the hope that wise counsel will prevail in the end”.
On South Africa, Mr Ordia said sporting links with that country were a violation of the Commonwealth Gleneagles Agreement and should be severed. Apartheid in sport should be condemned by all concerned as it was “doubly wrong” to discriminate against anyone in sport because of the pigmentation of his skin.
On the rest of his trip, he said his visit to Uganda had been to assess the damage to sport in that country and give advice to sports administrators on how to conduct a revival. In Nairobi he met sport officials but “at no time did I discuss the boycott of the Games in Brisbane” President Moi was not available, due to pressure of work.
“While in the capital of Kenya I wanted to see and know the progress being made for the fourth Africa Games but reports coming from there painted a wrong picture of my visit,” he said.
Before returning to Nigeria Mr Ordia will visit Maseru to meet officials about arrangements for the 1981 general convention of the general assembly of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.
With 50 member countries, he said, more than 300 delegates are expected to attend, and Lesotho “needs all help” to hold the convention.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Improving sporting facilities in Zimbabwe is crucial for several reasons, which can be categorised into economic, social, and developmental aspects.
- Improved facilities can attract more international events, leading to increased tourism and local spending. This influx of visitors can stimulate various sectors such as hospitality, retail, and transportation.
- High-quality sporting facilities are essential for identifying and nurturing talent at a young age. By investing in infrastructure that supports various sports codes – such as athletics, football, cricket, and swimming – Zimbabwe can create a pipeline of skilled athletes who may compete on international stages.
- Access to improved sporting facilities promotes physical fitness among the population. A healthier population translates into lower healthcare costs for the government and improved productivity within the workforce.
Online Reporter