adminMujuru said the Games should be given the necessary support so that the country will be able to groom and develop talent.
She made the remarks yesterday as she officially opened the 10th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games here.
“As we celebrate the commencement of these games, the Olympic Games are currently in progress in London, where Zimbabwe is represented by a team of seven athletes.
“This is the smallest team ever to represent the country at these games and that is a cause for concern.
“It calls for us to take stock of our capacities in this regard in order to come up with a sustainable strategy if Zimbabwe want to make a statement at the world stage as a competitive sport playing nation,” said Mujuru.
All the country’s 10 provinces have sent their youth teams for the games which are roaring into life at venues across Mashonaland Central Province today.
Trojan Mine will host the boys’ football while girls’ soccer will be played at Hermain Germmeiner School.
Mazoe Boys’ High is hosting the basketball matches while Bradley in Madziwa is hosting handball events.
Harare Province are the defending champions but the host province are expected to put up a fine show.
VP Mujuru, also raised her concern at the proposals by the Sports and Recreation Commission to send a relatively smaller team to the Zone Six Youth Games in Zambia.
“I am informed once again that we will send a relatively small team since the biennial games started in 2004 and that this is a financial limitation more than anything else.
“This admittedly is an undesirable situation and Government will strive to find ways to improve the funding of such programmes in future,” said Mujuru.
Mujuru challenged that talent identified at the games should be exposed to international competitions.
“It is imperative that talent identified and developed through the Youth Games should get exposed to international competition if our athletes are to make a mark at the highest level of competition in future,” said Mujuru.
Top athletes like Gabriel Mvumvure and Ngoni Makusha took part in the Youth Games before finding their way at United States colleges on scholarships.
Online Reporter