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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FOR the first time in the history of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games, President Mugabe is expected to officially open the championships in Bulawayo next week.No date has been set though for the official opening of the annual sporting extravaganza that is making a return to their birth place 10 years on.
Sport and Recreation Commission corporate communications officer Tirivashe Nheweyembwa confirmed that a request has already been sent to the Office of the President for the Head of State and Government to grace the event.
“His presence will definitely raise the profile of these Games. A request was brought to the SRC to have the Head of State and Government and Commander-in- Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to officially open the Games. As per protocol, we also approached our parent ministry and the paper work has since been done,” said Nheweyembwa.
The SRC falls under the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
He said the Games were now in their second cycle and back to their birth place and it would only be befitting for President Mugabe to grace them.
With the City of Kings also playing host to the regional Zone Six Games next year, President Mugabe’s visit will definitely kick-start the route to 2014 and attract the attention of the corporate world.
The local organising committee has been struggling to raise the $1,6 million targeted budget with assistant general manager finance Bongani Sibanda saying that they have since given up hope of meeting that target and will now rely on donations.
Nheweyembwa said failure to meet the set target would not stop the Games from being a success as the majority of issues were material like construction of four handball courts at Luveve and Northlea High Schools.
“If donations for some of the material things come then automatically that cost is struck off the budget. As SRC we are very happy with the construction of the courts as it helps us meet some of our target of making sure the generality of Zimbabwean population get access to sporting facilities, the legacy left by these Games is what is important,” he said.
Meanwhile, the scientific conference that usually precedes the Youth Games kicks off this morning at the National University of Science and Technology with experts from South Africa expected to address the two-day event.
Online Reporter