admincommittees to mark the countdown to London 2012 Games.
Speaking at a Press conference held at Prince Edward School, ZOC president, Admire Masenda said the Games are a significant event for the nation and they hope Team Zimbabwe will be able to collect some medals next year.
“For us this is a significant event and we are very keen and confident that we will be able to bring some medals.
“Kirsty (Coventry) seems to be in the track, she has been doing well in some of the competitions and we are very confident in that regard.
“In 2004 at Athens Olympic Games, Zimbabwe won three medals and in Beijing 2008 Zimbabwe won four medals,” said Masenda.
Masenda said it is the responsibility of national associations to prepare the athletes for the Games.
“It’s the national associations’ responsibility to prepare the athletes.
“When they come to us they will be almost ready to compete and every support given to the athletes is critical,” said Masenda.
Masenda said they are looking at around US$250 000 for the preparations of the Games.
ZOC vice president, Busi Chindove is the chef de mission for the Games.
She served as the CDM for the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore from August 14 to 26 last year.
Chindove is set to attend the chef de mission seminar in London from August 8 to 12.
In a speech read on her behalf by ZOC board member, Anna Mguni, Chindove, said ZOC are hoping to have a provisional team by December 31 with eight athletes on scholarships targeted to qualify for the
Games.
The eight are Coventry (swimming), Ngonidzashe Makusha, Brian Dzingai, Malvin Bonde, Anthony Hobwana and Cutbert Nyasango (athletics) and Takanyi Garanganga and Mbonisi Ndimande (tennis).
“We hope to have set a provisional team by December 31.
“No one has qualified to date. Swimming is currently competing at the FINA World Championships in China and this is a qualifying event.
“The athletics World Championships are scheduled for 24 August to 3 September 2011 in Daegu, Korea and it’s also a qualifying event.
“We have these athletes on scholarship to enable them to focus on training and competitions in order to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games,” said Chindove.
ZOC has five disciplines – triathlon, athletics, tennis, swimming and judo under the Continental and Regional Games athlete preparation programme. Zimbabwe will also use the All-Africa Games as a qualifying event. ZOC are also assisting the senior men’s team hockey under the Team Support Grant to prepare for the Africa Olympic Qualifiers to be held in Zimbabwe from September 3 to 12 in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter