Mosi to host Mat North Athletics Champs

THE resort city of Victoria Falls is expected to come alive today and tomorrow as all Matabeleland North’s seven districts converge on Mosi-oa-Tunya High School for the provincial National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) athletics finals.

The two-day event is a litmus test for Mosi-Oa-Tunya High School which will play host the the Nash national finals from March 19 to 22 this month where more than 1 000 athletes and their officials will be expected to throng the tourism city as Victoria Falls continues to position itself as a sports destination.

The Government is pursuing a revitalised tourism agenda under the National Tourism Growth and Recovery Strategy launched by President Mnangagwa in 2020 and the need to come up with new products and activities is top on the agenda.

Sports, religious, cultural, and gastronomy tourism are some of the new products being pursued.

Victoria Falls was selected as the perfect venue as Matabeleland North hosts the 2024 Nash athletics competition.

Sport codes include javelin, short put, high jump, long jump, discuss, triple jump, and track events.

The school has been busy upgrading its sports ground in preparation for the event and today’s provincial finals will out to test the venue and show its readiness to host the national finals.

Mosi-oa-Tunya grounds have over the years been developed to become the only befitting standard ground in the province.

Over the years Matabeleland North would host its athletics activities in Bulawayo at the National University of Science and Technology and this is the first time the province is hosting the event on its own land and Victoria Falls happens to be the perfect venue.

Some would have preferred Hwange Colliery Stadium but the ground has limited tracks as it has less than the standard 10.

The city will be painted in different colours with Bulawayo in their traditional black attires, Harare white, Manicaland gold, Masvingo, Mashonaland Central bottle green, Mashonaland East green, Mashonaland West yellow, Matabeleland North navy blue, Matabeleland South royal blue and Midlands red invade the destination.

Nash leadership is engaging Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority for a waiver for athletes to enetr the Rainforest.

Nash national head in charge of athletics Roland Sibanda said the school is hosting provincial finals starting today.

“The Nash provincial competitions are on as from Thursday to Friday at Mosi-oa-Tunya,” he said.

The Nash competitions started at zonal level on February 8 and 9 before district finals between 22 and 23 February.

Rules of the competition have been circulated to provinces.

Provinces are encouraged to standardise their meetings in accordance to Nash guidelines from the lowest level of the competition so that the competition is professionally handled from the onset.

All teams will be required to strictly adhere to competition rules especially on warm up as they will be expected to warm up within the premises

Athletes will be given an opportunity to visit the competition grounds on the 19th to do some stretches but without equipment.

The age groups are Under 15, Under 17 and Under 20.

Final entries are expected to be submitted by Tuesday next week.

The events will be strictly run and organised in accordance with Nash rules and regulations guided by World Athletics Competition rules and regulations.

After the national finals, Zimbabwe will set team COSSASA in preparation for the regional games set for Lesotho in April or May.