adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THERE is a need for research on the contribution of sport to the national economy in a move meant to find out how much sport contributes to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a seasoned administrator has said. Speaking during the second and final Zimbabwe National Youth Games General Managers’ Assembly at a city hotel last Friday, the Sport and Recreation Commission (SRC) director for sport development, Joseph Muchechetere said the information will come in handy during negotiations with the government and other corporate bodies for funding of sport in general and the Youth Games in particular.
“At the moment we all do not know how much sport contributes to the GDP. We need that information and I think it’s high time we have a deliberate research on that. We need to have that statistic as we engage the government because we will be able to then say sport brings in so much to the national economy but as of now, that information is not available,” said Muchechetere.
He said sport can be used as a brand to profile Zimbabwe and for that the quality of the Youth Games need to be of high standard.
The sport development director then castigated some national associations for not taking the Youth Games seriously urging the general managers to make sure they appointed the right people to coach their provincial teams.
“Competent people are needed in preparations for the Games and I also want to warn against monopolising team selection where you will find athletes or players from one part of the province or team, we don’t need that in our system,” said Muchechetere.
The 11th edition of the Youth Games will be held in Bulawayo from 17-25 August.
Meanwhile, the local organising committee led by businessman Raj Modi has announced that they are ready to play host to the Games.
Five institutions have already been identified as venues and accommodation places, namely United Education of Education, Bulawayo Polytechnic College, School of Hospitality, Hillside Teachers’ College and the National University of Science and Technology.
Three high schools have also been chosen for accommodation and these are Northlea and Milton High Schools as well as Girls College.
The city’s only university NUST will also play host to the track and field athletics competitions while Bulawayo Club for the Disabled (BCD) and Girls College will play host to boys and girls basketball. Boxing, which in the history of the Games has had one of the biggest crowds, will be held at Sizinda and Stanley Halls with consultations already under way between the Raj Modi led Loc and the City Fathers, to have Large City Hall as one of the venues as well.
Emakhandeni Hall and Girls College will play host to tennis competitions while volleyball will be held at Milton High School.
Girls soccer will be at Barbourfields Stadium (outside grounds) while boys will fight it out at White City Stadium.
Games Villages: Nust, Hillside Teachers’ College, UCE, Bulawayo Poly and School of Hospitality
Competition Venues:
Athletics: Nust
Basketball: BCD and Girls College
Boxing: Sizinda and Stanley Halls
Handball: Luveve and Northlea High Schools
Tennis: Emakhandeni Hall and Girls College
Volleyball: Milton High School
Girls Soccer: Barbourfields grounds
Boys’ Soccer: White City Stadium
Netball: White City Courts
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