adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
THE long wait is over!
More than 3 500 athletes and officials will converge in Mutare for the 2015 edition of the National Youth Games that is expected to be officially opened by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday.
The 13th edition of the National Youth Games will run from tomorrow (Saturday) up to August 23.
Local Organising Committee chief executive Cosmas Chiringa confirmed that all was set for the annual sporting fête and participants were expected to arrive in the eastern border city tomorrow (Saturday).
Chiringa allayed fears that there could be a shortage of food during the games as widely reported in the private media in the run-up to the event.
“As LOC Manicaland, I can safely say we are ready to host the event.
“Everything is now in place and we are now awaiting the arrival of participating provinces, which are expected to arrive on Saturday (tomorrow).
“Accommodation for athletes and officials is already in place, while the venues where the games will be held have been spruced up. We will have the official opening on Sunday at Sakubva Stadium where Vice-President Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour.
“We really want to thank all those who supported us by donating generously towards the event. Companies and individuals in Manicaland and beyond have been very co-operative and I think we should thank them for their sense of responsibility against the background of the harsh economic conditions.
“However, we also continue to implore all those who can donate to do so, especially in terms of vehicles that can be used to ferry participants from one place to the other during the seven-day long event,” said Chiringa.
The Mutare District Administrator urged the people of Mutare to throng games venues in their numbers.
“In the same breadth, we really want to urge the people of Mutare to come out in their numbers and support the games. We are the hosts and therefore we want to create a carnival atmosphere that will make the games a huge success.
“The team from Mozambique will also be here for the event. They have indicated that they will field athletes in handball and volleyball.
“We are expecting Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa to officially close the games when they come to an end,” he added.
Participants during the annual multi-sport discipline event will compete in a total of eight sporting disciplines that include soccer, athletics, handball, boxing, tennis, netball, volleyball and basketball. For the first time in the 12-year history of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games, an eleventh provincial team from Mozambique — Team Manica — will partake in the 2015 ZNYG.
Team Manica, made up of players and officials from Mozambique’s Manica Province will feature in this year’s edition of the annual multi-sports discipline event upon the invitation of Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Mandi Chimene.
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