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THE Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Sports Management Board is keen to celebrate Olympic Day with some Olympians from the region on 20 July. This year’s celebrations of the founding of the biggest sporting organisation in the world, will be held in Bulawayo. They are part of the build up to the hosting of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games set for next month.
Bhekuzulu Khumalo, who chairs the local organising committee said it would be good to celebrate Olympism with people who have been to the Games. He said they stand out as an inspiration to young generations of aspiring Olympic athletes.
He said they were making frantic efforts to mobilise the city’s athletes that have competed at that level to attend.
There are a couple of them, some of whom were members of the first Olympic Games team in 1980. These include hockey legend Pat Mckillop, soccer players Tapiwa Mudyambanje the elder brother of former Highlanders scoring sensation Tobias and Bosso legendary goalkeeper Peter Nkomo.
Nkomo was later nicknamed Moscow by the hordes of Highlanders fans after the Under-23 team’s participation in 1980.
Khumalo said they were keen to have former marathon runner Mathias Kanda at the celebrations.
Kanda and Rabson Murombe now retired and farming in Binga’s Pashu area, were the first Black Zimbabwean athletes to represent the country and this was at the Tokyo Olympics in 1968.
“He is an icon, we have to celebrate his life and achievement, the honour we can bestow on him is to have him at the top table when we have our Olympic Day. Kanda and others should not be forgotten because they are part of the sport’s rich sporting legacy,” said Khumalo.
The chairman of the local organising committee said White City Stadium will be the venue of the celebrations.
He said a number of Olympic sports would be on display with participants drawn from primary schools, secondary, colleges, amateur and professional athletes.
Athletics, boxing, basketball, tennis, volleyball, netball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer and equestrian sports are sure to take part with many more that are part of the Olympic programme to be entertained.
“It’s a day to celebrate Olympism and share its values of excellence, friendship and respect guided by principles such as non-discrimination, humanism, universality, solidarity and alliance between sport, education and culture.
“We want the whole of Bulawayo to embrace the games and the spirit. Progress is steady in our preparations and we still open to partners for the event who could get some mileage out of associating with the event,” said Khumalo.
There will be a 5km run that will be open to athletes from other disciplines while the elite runner will be expected to compete in the more competitive 10km race.
“It’s a day for everyone, those who want to have a light jog 5km would be ideal but those who feel they have the energy they will compete against the elite athletes over 10km,” said Khumalo.
Isaiah Mpofu the SRC’s regional manager and Sam Dzvimbu the Bulawayo province co-ordinator said preparations were on course.
“We are preparing for the Youth Games and next year’s Zone Six Games so this is part of the awareness build up,” said Mpofu.
Online Reporter