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Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE 2024 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly known as the Euros, have come and gone, with Spain deservedly being crowned champions after their 2-1 win over England during last weekend’s final.
Now, all the attention shifts to the world’s biggest multi-sporting spectacle — the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The Games officially open on Friday and will run until August 11, with 10 500 athletes competing in 329 events.
The main athletics events will be at the Stade de France, on the northern outskirts of Paris, while Pont d’Ien hosts the cycling events and the marathon starts at the Hotel de Ville and ends at Les Invalides.
Paris 2024 organisers say the Games will be protected by an “unprecedented” security operation. Between 35 000 and 45 000 security personnel will guard venues and police the Olympic opening ceremony.
Team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission (CDM) Ringisai Mapondera left for France last week with the Games’ official giving hosts France the thumbs up in terms of preparation and readiness for the global spectacle.
“The CDM left for France last week (July 17) and had a chance to inspect training and gym facilities, the places where the team will be staying and things like that.
“We are generally happy with the progress and everything seems to be in order,” said Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC)’s marketing and communications officer ChidoLisa Manuwa.
Zimbabwe are sending seven athletes drawn from athletics, rowing and swimming and these are Issac Mpofu, Rutendo Nyahora, Tapiwanashe Makarawu, Makanakaishe Charamba, Stephen Cox, Denilson Cyprianos and Paige van der Westhuizen.
On the eve of the Games, ZOC appear to be relatively happy with the team’s preparedness and have refused to close the door on the prospects of winning medals.
Such is the confidence of the committee that ZOC have since offered monetary incentives for podium and top 10 finishes for the seven athletes expected to do duty in France.
Gold medallists are set to pocket US$10 000, while silver will attract US$7 500 and US$5 000 for bronze. Those who finish in the top 10 will get US$2 500 each.
“While there will always be room for improvement, we are generally satisfied and happy with the preparations,” said Manuwa.
“Ideally, we would have wanted the team to assemble and camp here in Zimbabwe. We understand that the absence of high-performance centres here in Zimbabwe was an obstacle.
“There was more value for them to train abroad. Isaac Mpofu has been camped here in Zimbabwe for some time and Rutendo (Nyahora) came back for the final two weeks.”
As it pertains to medal hopefuls, Manuwa said: “There is every reason to be optimistic about medals and podium finishes. If you look at the team, some of them not only qualified, but did so with good times.
“For Makarawu, the qualifying standard time for the 200m race was 20.16 seconds, but he posted something like 19.93 seconds, which was way below.
“In rowing, Cox has been very active and dominating in Europe and the few regattas. Isaac (Mpofu) is another athlete we are looking at,” she said.
Team Zimbabwe’s athletes have started making their way to France, with administration and welfare officer Sipiwe Kahiya and Mapondera on hand to welcome rower Cox and his coach Franz Imfled yesterday.
The swimming duo of Cyprianos and van der Westhuizen are expected to arrive in Paris today.
Zimbabwe’s participation at the Games kicks off with Cox entering the rowing race on July 27.
Online Reporter