Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE’S athletes have been challenged to step up their act and ensure they make their mark when they feature at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the US.
The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe made the clarion call in Harare yesterday as the country up-scaled preparations for the Games with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee handing scholarships to nine athletes ahead of the global sporting showcase.
“Train boldly, compete fearlessly and let the Zimbabwe flag fly high,” Sanyatwe said.
In a keynote address at a function to hand over the scholarships, read on his behalf by the director of strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation in the Ministry, Cynthia Mawema, Sanyatwe paid tribute to the nine athletes and urged them to fly the nation’s flag high in the lead-up to and during the 2028 Olympics that will be held in the US.
ZOC announced the nine recipients of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games Solidarity Scholarships at the presentation ceremony held.
And these are: sprint kings Tapiwanashe Makarawu and Makanakaishe Charamba, marathon runner Tendai Zimuto, Vimbayi Maisvorewa and Ashley Miller (all from athletics), Benjamin Lock (tennis), Andie Kuipers (triathlon), Anje Van As and Paige Van Der Westhuizen (swimming).
The LA 2028 Olympic Solidarity Scholarships are designed to support the Zimbabwean athletes projected to qualify for the Games.
And in terms of the scholarships which are to the tune of US$6 000 for every quarter, the nine athletes will share the money from September 2025 to August 2028.
“This moment reflects not only our collective ambition, but also the unwavering spirit that continues to drive Zimbabwe’s growth forward,” the Minister said.
“As we move toward Los Angeles 2028, Zimbabwe deeply values the continuity of enhanced collaboration in areas such as elite training, sports science, international athlete development programmes and sports science.
“This support symbolises the shared belief that sports unite nations.
“And we view 2028 as a critical moment for Zimbabwe and athletes to showcase their unique potential on the world stage. “Today marks a pivotal moment as we officially recognise nine extraordinary athletes — five remarkable women and four dedicated men — who have been awarded the prestigious Olympic Solidarity Scholarships.
“This achievement is far more than a financial award but it is a bold declaration of national intent and a testament to Zimbabwe’s commitment to developing a new generation of world-class competitors.
“The diversity within this group — from tennis and athletics to swimming and triathlon — shows the depth of Zimbabwe’s sport and the power of discipline and action,” Sanyatwe said.
He reminded the athletes that they are the country ambassadors at the Games.
“You are now the face of our LA 28 campaign.
“This scholarship gives you access to high-performance coaching, international competitions, nutritional support and world-class training.
“However, the most important ingredient remains your personal commitment.
“The journey ahead requires discipline, sacrifice and unwavering focus. You carry the hopes of the nation, and we believe in your ability to rise to the challenge.
“When you step onto the international stage, remember that you carry with you the strength, resilience and pride of over 15 million Zimbabweans.
“You are not only competing for medals but you are representing our identity, our aspirations and our belief in excellence.
As it pertains to the actual scholarships, they specifically aim to support elite athletes who have the potential to qualify for the next Olympic Games but face significant resource barriers.
The funding covers crucial elements that allow the athletes to focus purely on training and performance, and these include training and coaching fees, travel and competition costs, medical and scientific support, as well as subsistence. They provide a monthly allowance for basic needs which in turn allows the athletes to dedicate their time and effort to sport. The scholarships from the International Olympic Committee also affirm that these athletes are on the glob-al radar and deserve the best possible preparation for early 2028.
The selection process is a rigorous exercise in which ZOC made a formal call to national federations, requesting that they submit names of athletes who demonstrate the highest potential to qualify and achieve success at the end of the 2028 Olympics.
A technical commission, led by the ZOC vice-president, Fredreck Ndlovu, then sieved through the names, focusing on continental and international performances, world rankings and ZOC selection policy to come up with the nine.
Some of the scholarship recipients posted messages of gratitude after receiving the news.
