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Wallace Ruzvidzo in PARIS, France
ZIMBABWE is part of the global community of nations and is committed to playing its part in ushering sport as a sustainable development tool to not only ensure mental and physical fitness, but to also help in combating drug and substance abuse, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has said.
The Vice President attended the Sport for Sustainable Development summit here yesterday, a precursor to the official opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games today.
In an interview after the summit, VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe’s participation at such international fora was testament of the country’s increasing global footprint and commitment to sport development.
“These platforms are quite important because we are part of the world community and it is important that our people grow up, our children grow up, both mentally and physically fit,” he said.
“The main thing which took place was to combine and articulate the importance of sport in everything that we do: in education, health and looking at all the various groups of people in our society, be they be disabled or women.”
VP Chiwenga said it was imperative that all nations take an active role towards championing inclusivity in sport, to ensure the all-round well-being of citizens.
“To be inclusive in what sport does in all these activities and also mainly to deal with the issue of obesity which is quite detrimental to good health,” he said.
The Vice President highlighted some of the goodwill gestures by sporting organisations.
“Yes, there were some of the major sporting organisations which have taken lead in developing sporting facilities, especially in Africa.
“FIFA has pledged, the International Olympic Committee itself, the organisation, has pledged, but also other international financial institutions have pledged, although they did not pronounce the amounts of the money they are going to pour in.
“But it was for every country and for all people to make contributions for the development of sporting facilities, more so in rural areas and in schools,” he said.
Host President Emmanuel Macron said sport was an important aspect in human development.
“Sport is a driver of solidarity and progress and a means to advance, to address many of our common challenges and in particular, to invest in future generations of our athletes, when it comes to education, health and nutrition.
“Our aim is to work together, as a team, to win this match against fate, for generations to come.
“In Paris, it is time to write a new page in our sporting, fraternal and universal history,” he said.
President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach conveyed the IOC commitment to strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Developments Goals.
Online Reporter