marble nkomoFungai Muderere, [email protected]
THE Technical Education Sports, Arts and Recreation (Tesar) Games roared into life yesterday in Bulawayo with a track and field meet that ushered in an exciting and inclusive sporting festival that will bring together students from technical institutions across Zimbabwe.
The athletics half day event took place at a packed White City Stadium.
The games are being hosted by Westgate Industrial Training College in Bulawayo and will run up to 8 April. The games have attracted strong participation from polytechnics, industrial training colleges and other technical institutions.
“So far, I’m happy with the progress. We have started with the track and field events,” said Juma Banda, the spokespersons of the organisers.
He added: We will proceed with other games at various venues tomorrow (today). I’m happy with the talent that we have seen so far from our students. Our students will need to become more competitive in the region and continue to get recognition even beyond.” This year’s tournament theme “Promoting a Healthy Body and Mind Through Inclusive Sport for Innovation and Productivity Towards Vision 2030.”
“The theme highlights the importance of sport in fostering physical fitness, mental wellbeing, teamwork and innovation among students in technical education institutions. The games will feature a wide range of sporting disciplines for both male and female athletes, while also integrating Paralympic sporting codes to ensure inclusivity for students with disabilities.
“Beyond competition, the event will also provide an important platform for interaction, cultural exchange and networking among students from different institutions,” said Tesar president Loraine Nguluvhe.
Tesar games patron Poniso Watema, who is also the principal of Mutare Polytechnic said: “Easter Saturday, is a day we had our track and field events. We have not had any major casualties, the true spirit of sportsmanship is prevailing. We have seen that we have great talent in our institutions as we continue to pick a team that will represent us at the Zimbabwe Tertiary Sports that will see all tertiary institutions in Zimbabwe meet. We are networking and also shunning drug and substance abuse.”
By end of day yesterday, Mutare Polytechnic had amassed 14 gold, nine silver and three bronze medals. Six gold medals, seven silver medals and two bronze medals had gone to Harare Polytechnic while Masvingo Polytechnic had six gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Gweru Polytechnic were on position three gold medals, one silver and the same number of bronze.
Bulawayo Polytechnic had bronze managing to get three silver and four bronze medals.
The sporting disciplines to be contested include athletics, basketball, cricket, handball, karate, chess, soccer, rugby, netball, pool, darts, volleyball, table tennis and tennis for both men and women.
The games introduced korfball, a new sport code aimed at promoting mixed participation and teamwork among male and female athletes.
Paralympic athletes will participate in athletics (track and field events), goalball, five-a-side football, darts and chess.
“The integration of paralympic sports reflects a growing commitment within tertiary sport to ensure equal participation and opportunity for all athletes, regardless of physical ability. Similar tertiary sports competitions in Zimbabwe also emphasise inclusivity through Paralympic events and proper athlete classification systems,” said Nguluvhe.
Today, there will be an official opening ceremony of the games at White City Stadium City Stadium, where invited guests and the guest of honour will officially declare the games open.
Twelve technical institutions from across Zimbabwe are participating, Bulawayo Polytechnic, Harare Polytechnic, Gweru Polytechnic, Masvingo Polytechnic, Kwekwe Polytechnic, Mutare Polytechnic, Zimbabwe School of Mines, Kushinga Phikelela Polytechnic, Westgate Industrial Training College, Msasa Industrial Training College, TelOne Centre for Learning and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Polytechnic.
Online Reporter