Lovemore Dube
THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee has dispelled information circulating that they have sent 67 people to this year’s Olympic Games.
The party consists of 15 officials.
The insinuation was that ZOC had flown more officials than athletes raising fears of extravagancy and cronyism.
Last night the organization that runs and facilitates participation at the Olympics released the names and titles of those that have traveled to the Games whose officially opening is today.
The team is led by the Chef de Mission Ringisai Mapondera, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee’s Spiwe Nyamande who is handling the administration and welfare aspect of the Zimbabwe team with Abigail Mnikwa the physiotherapist.
Henry Thabane is the track athletes’ coach with Benson Chauke who has been working with marathon runner Isaac Mpofu to be in charge of the long distance runners.
Swimming coach for these Games is Masi Takaedza with Franz Imfield in charge of rowing. Andrew Lorimer is the rowing manager.
ZOC president Thabani Gonye and chief executive officer Marlene Gadzirayi are there too.
The Zimbabwe team has seven athletes – Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora (marathon), Stephen Cox ( rowing), sprinters Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba (200m), swimmers Denilson Cyprianos (200m backstroke) and Paige van Der Westhuizen (100m freestyle).
However the Games started on Wednesday with qualifiers in sports like Rugby Sevens.



