admintheir chief executive Anna Mguni, yesterday revealed that they have secured a kit sponsorship for the London Games team with Japanese sport giant Mizuno Corporation.
The kit sponsorship deal, valued at over US$100 000, covers competition and out of competition kit.
ZOC and Mizuno entered into the agreement last week, Mguni said.
She also said that ZOC managed to secure the Japanese company as the official sponsor largely supported by the standing relationship between the National Athletic Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) and Mizuno, as well as the positive relations fostered by the NOC and the Corporation over the years.
Founded in 1906, Mizuno Corporation has a long tradition of supporting athletes in several African countries including the likes of Zimbabweans Brian Dzingai and Ngoni Makusha.
“ZOC are impressed by Mizuno Corporation’s plans for supporting Team Zimbabwe.
“In fact, ZOC are naturally delighted to have Mizuno Corporation as the official kit sponsor for Team Zimbabwe.
“Mizuno have an enthusiasm and energy for Team Zimbabwe which complements our own attitude: we are looking forward to an exciting year which will hopefully culminate in a great performance for Team Zimbabwe at London 2012.
“Zimbabwean athletes are no strangers to the Mizuno brand and we welcome this development which is part of the ongoing drive to support and resource the team adequately,” Mguni said.
The team’s kit comprises specific competition kit for the athletes, tracksuits, casual shirts, caps, trainers and kit bags.
As a recognised sportswear supplier, Mguni said, Mizuno will be permitted to brand the kit but only in accordance with the stringent International Olympic Committee branding and kit specification regulations.
The athletes will receive their kit on arrival at the Olympic Village in London for the 2012 Olympic Games, which are set to run from July 27 to August 12.
Mguni also expressed gratitude to Faithwear who provided part sponsorship of the team kit for Team Zimbabwe for the last two Olympics in Athens, Greece, in 2004 and Beijing, China, in 2008.
“Opportunities still exist for Zimbabwean corporates to collaborate with ZOC. We are yet to secure the ceremonial kit and look forward to support from a Zimbabwean entity to cover this important aspect of team attire.
“We encourage the nation to support Team Zimbabwe,” she said.
As at May 14 2012, Team Zimbabwe has seven athletes that have qualified with “A” Olympic qualification standards and they are Kirsty Coventry (swimming), Makusha (long jump), Cutbert Nyasango, Wirimayi Juwawo, Sharon Tawengwa (all marathon), Micheen Thornicroft and Jaime Fraser McKenzie (rowing).
At the last Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in 2008, Zimbabwe sent a team of 13 athletes who competed in swimming, athletics, tennis, cycling, triathlon and rowing.
The 13 athletes were swimmers Coventry and Heather Brand, long jumper Makusha, sprinters Dzingai, Lewis Banda and Talkmore Nyongani, middle-distance runner Nyasango, marathon runners Tabitha Tsatsa and Mike Fokoroni, cyclist Antipas Kwari, rower Elena Hill, tennis player Cara Black and triathlete Chris Felgate.
And swimming sensation Coventry stole the show from the rest of her Zimbabwean teammates as she emerged as the only member of that team to win medals at the Beijing Games.
At the Beijing Games, Coventry fished out four medals – one gold and three silvers.
Coventry managed to improve on her three-medal performance from Athens in 2004, repeating her gold medal in the 200-metre backstroke and her silver in the 100-metre backstroke, and adding silver medals in the 200 and 400-metre individual medleys.
She also set a world record in her 100m backstroke semi-final, which was not broken in the final, and won the 200m backstroke with another world record.
Her teammate Brand did not advance from the heats.
At the same Beijing Games in 2008, seven Zimbabweans competed in athletics, with the best finishes being a pair of fourth-places.
One came from United States-based sprinter Dzingai, in the men’s 200 metres.
Dzingai was the top qualifier in the heats and semi-finals, but in the final, he was originally placed sixth, before two disqualifications moved him up to fourth.
The other came from Makusha in the men’s long jump.
Makusha qualified in fifth place, and sat in second place after the first three jumps.
He was passed by one opponent on the fourth attempt, and then lost a medal by a single centimetre on the last round of jumps.
In marathon, Fokoroni did well to finish 11th in the men’s race in 2 hours 13 minutes 17 seconds while Tsatsa finished a disappointing 49th place in the women’s event in 2:13:10.
In cycling, Zimbabwe were represented by Kwari and he was the last finisher in the men’s mountain bike race, a full lap behind the next-to-last finisher.
Female rower Hill managed to qualify from her opening heat, but finished last in her quarter-final and her semi-final, ending up in 25th.
In tennis, now retired women’s doubles specialist Black, represented Zimbabwe for the third time in Olympic tennis, and lost her only singles match in straight sets.
Triathlete Felgate finished the swim with the main pack, but fell behind in the cycling and running portions.
Online Reporter