adminRanson Madzamba
The 2019 Zimbabwe National Youth and Paralympic Games may have come and gone in Gweru, but a number of people seem to be questioning the thrust of the event in as far as sport development is concerned.
Questions include the following:
What are these games for? When did they start? Since they came into being, how have they benefited the participants and the country at large? Will they, in any way, help in the creation of a vibrant sport industry in the country?
Well, this article seeks to answer some of those questions.
The games are a product of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation. They are being spearheaded by the Sport and Recreation Commission.
The history of the Youth Games date back to 2003. On the other hand, the Paralympic Games stretch back to 2008.
Since its inception, the patron of the games has been the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe. Patrons of the provincial teams are the Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs.
The games facilitate the selection of talented athletes and strengthen the delivery capacities of administrators and technical officials.
They also construct and refurbish sport and recreation infrastructure as well as create opportunities for sport businesses.
They have been hosted separately on a rotational basis, following predetermined hosting plans, thereby giving all the country’s 10 provinces a chance to host them.
But the million-dollar issue is whether these games are worthy to be hosted every year.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa had this to say when he officially opened the 2019 edition in Gweru, “Traditionally, sport was casual, relaxed and recreational. However, it has now become more competitive, organized, marketed and complexly administered. As such, sport has the potential to become a significant economic driver that precipitates value chain business activities, directly or indirectly contributing to the national economy.
“The National Paralympic Games will empower the participants to realise their full potential as well as advocate against societal stigma towards people with disability.”
As highlighted by the President, the games are contributing towards sports development. It is important to note that most of the nation’s netball players, the Gems, are products of the Youth Games.
Their performance in Liverpool underlies the significance of the games in the development of sport.
Athletes such as sprinter Gabriel Mvumvure, who later got a scholarship to study sport in America, boxer Charles Manyuchi and Highlanders goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, are also some of the notable prodigies of the games.
The Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry said the games need to be aggressively marketed.
“The games need to have qualification standards across all the sporting codes, minimum coaching qualifications for both coaches and technical officials.
“On the commercial side of the games, there is need to have a well-laid marketing plan. Prospective sponsors need to be approached now so that they include our requests in their budgets for next year,” said Minister Coventry.
Next year, Mashonaland East Province will host the games in Marondera.
Ranson Madzamba is the corporate and external affairs officer in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
Online Reporter