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Most Zimbabwean competitions, including the prestigious Zimbabwe National Paralympic Games and National Youth Games, are not recognised by international organisations like the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF) and the International Olympic Committee, among other world bodies.
In an interview yesterday, ZOC chief executive officer, Anna Mguni said it was saddening to note that the country had no internationally recognised race.
“That is where we are lagging behind as a nation. We should have our own national standards that are recognised regionally and even internationally. If you look at South Africa, most of their competitions are certified as Olympic qualifying standards and that makes it easier for their athletes to train locally,” said Mguni.
She said national associations should push for recognition of their competitions by international bodies so that the country’s sporting profile can improve.
Meanwhile, Mguni said seven athletes have so far qualified for the 2012 Olympic Games and was hopeful more will join the group.
She said the IAAF set 8 July as the cut-off date for all aspiring athletes to have met qualifying times and the deadline for countries to submit their final team lists is 9 July.
“So far we have Kirsty Coventry in swimming, Michele Thornycroft and Jamie Frazer in rowing, Wirimai Juwawo, Cuthbert Nyasango and Sharon Tavengwa in the marathon. We also have Ngoni Makusha although we are keeping our fingers crossed that he recovers on time while we are still waiting for confirmation from IAAF on Gilbert Mutandiro who had the best B qualifying standard,” said Mguni.
She said they will know by Thursday whether or not triathlete Chris Felgate will have made the grade while United States- based tennis player Takanyi Garanganga, another hopeful, is expected to qualify for the Games that run from 27 July- 8 August.
Garanganga is the singles All-Africa Games tennis champion.
“We will make a public announcement of Team Zimbabwe on 12 July before departure for London three days later. We are confident we will be able to mobilise the required funding from both the private sector and Government,” said Mguni.
Mguni said about $250 000 out of a target of $500 000 has already been raised from a number of fund-raising activities.
“We continue to receive pledges from different companies and indications are very positive that the target will be met,” she said.
ZOC has also secured a sports kit for Team Zimbabwe from Japanese sports giant Mizuno Corporation.
Efforts are underway to secure a ceremonial kit for use by the team during the opening and closing ceremony.
Swimming sensation Coventry, medal winner in the last two editions of the Olympics, in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, remains Zimbabwe’s best medal hopeful once more, as well as Makusha if he recovers.
Makusha, a long jumper, missed a medal in the 2008 edition of the Games by a centimetre.
Online Reporter