Online Reporter
Sifelani Tsiko
Fact Check Editor
ZIMBABWE will next month host a landmark international sporting science conference in Harare as the country positions itself to be at the centre of Africa’s sporting revolution.
The conference will bring together about 900 delegates from Sadc countries, AU member states, Europe, Asia, the Americas and leading sports science institutions worldwide.
Organisers describe the hosting of this conference as a major step towards transforming African sport from “grassroots participation into world-class podium performance.”
“Zimbabwe is on a new drive to develop and invest more in sports development,” said Dr Nongerai Moses Makurumidze, group CEO of Sports Science Institute Zimbabwe (SSIZ).
“We are so excited that Zimbabwe will host this landmark international sporting science conference from September 7 to 11 this year
“The major aim of this science conference is to leverage science, research and partnerships to improve athlete development, sports medicine, and performance across all sporting codes in line with national development priorities.”
The conference, organised by Sport Science International Zimbabwe (SSIZ), is expected to attract sporting scientists, administrators, coaches, athletes, academics, policymakers, investors, development partners and private-sector players from across the continent.
Delegates are expected from all 56 African countries, creating a unique platform for Africa to develop a coordinated approach to sporting science, talent identification, athlete development, sports investment and high-performance sport.
The conference, Dr Makurumidze said, reinforced the country’s mantra that “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” – and demonstrates that the country is prepared to welcome international expertise, investment, technology, knowledge and partnerships across the sporting sector.
He said the initiative will provide opportunities for Zimbabwean and international organisations to collaborate in areas including sports science, technology, infrastructure, athlete development, sports medicine, nutrition, coaching, research, education, sports tourism and sports entrepreneurship.
“Importantly, the conference is being positioned as a non-exclusive international platform, open to partners from Africa and beyond,” Dr Makurumidze said.
“This reflects Zimbabwe’s diplomatic and development principle of being a ‘Friend to All and Enemy to None’.
This conference hopes to establish a common continental framework for using science, technology and investment to identify, nurture and develop Africa’s sporting talent.
Delegates are expected to explore how Africa can move from grassroots talent identification to scientific development, high performance, international competition and podium success.
The organisers believe that Africa possesses enormous sporting talent, but that much of this talent is lost because of inadequate identification systems, limited scientific support, insufficient infrastructure and fragmented development programmes.
Organisers also hope to establish the Africa Sport Development Board to provide a continental platform for coordinating sports development, sporting science, research, talent identification, investment and international engagement.
“A key outcome will be laying the foundation for an African Sports University. The institution will also revive and mainstream long-forgotten indigenous games alongside modern sports science, and address perceptions that limit sport by affirming it as a serious field of study and a mass employer,” Dr Makurumidze said.
“We want stronger sporting systems that produce healthy communities and podium results.”
He said the conference will help advance NDS2 targets on youth empowerment, health, and job creation, while contributing to Agenda 2063 aspirations and global SDGs.
“It also reaffirms the Second Republic’s commitment to investing in sport as a driver of development, unity and national pride toward 2030,” Dr Makurumidze said.
