Youth Games ROC officials in town

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
TWO officials from the Regional Organising Committee (ROC) for the December African Union Sports Council Region V Youth Games have arrived in Bulawayo to check on the city’s readiness to play host to the sports festival.
Eleven countries — Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe will compete at the Games that will run from December 5-14.

The local organising committee chairperson Khonzani Ncube said the ROC officials were Sydney Simelani and Siyabonga Sangweni.
She said four other ROC officials led by Stanley Mutoya will jet in from their Botswana offices tomorrow with African Union Sports Council Region V secretary-general Mvuzo Mbebe arriving on Saturday ahead of next week’s meetings with the chef de missions and sports bodies.

During their visit, ROC officials will hold a series of meetings aimed at establishing the state of preparedness for the Games. They meet the LOC’s subcommittee tomorrow.

Joint meetings involving ROC, LOC, confederations for different sports codes and chef de missions are set for next week.
Ncube said the highlight of the ROC, confederations and chef de missions’ visit will be the tour of venues and the Games Village.

Renovations are being done at White City Stadium which will be home to athletics and netball, Bulawayo Athletics Club (tennis), City Pool (swimming), Luveve and Barbourfields stadia (football) as well as the Games Village at Hillside Teachers’ College.

Boxing will be at the City Hall with judo and basketball set for the ZITF.
“ROC members are in the country and will be here until next week. We will brief them on what we have covered as well as outstanding matters. When officials for confederations and the chef de missions arrive they will tour venues and we will also allocate nations their residence halls for the Games. It is during the visit of all these organs that we will hold the Games’ draw on October 24 before they leave on the following day,” said Ncube.