adminMagamba Hockey arena.
The international celebrations are set for September 8.
However, ZPC requested to the International Paralympic Committee to hold the event earlier to enable their athletes who are going to the All-Africa Games, starting on September 3 in Maputo, to attend the event.
The event’s main theme is to raise awareness about the London 2012 Paralympic Games to be held from August 29 to September 9. ZPC secretary-general, Lewis Garaba, said they were looking forward to the celebrations which will be their first public event since they came into office last year.
“We are inviting everyone to be involved in this important event on our calendar. We have grouped our disabilities into six groups – the amputees and wheelchair athletes, hearing impaired, visually impaired, intellectual challenged, those with spinal cord problems and we were also supposed to have cerebral palsy athletes but we do not have any,” said Garaba.
The athletes will participate in five-aside soccer, netball, wheelchair tennis, boccia, wheelchair basketball and tug-of-war.
Garaba said the event will be graced by local athletes among them Elliot Mujaji and Elford Moyo who are part of the team going to Mozambique.
“We are excited that this event coincides with the 10th All-Africa Games preparations and our elite athletes will be in camp in Harare and those attending the celebrations will have a chance to meet them.
“We are sending 19 athletes to the All-Africa Games and expect half of the number to qualify for the Paralympic Games in London.
“We are hoping that our athletes will make the qualifying time at the All-Africa Games because they are a qualifier event for next year’s Games in London,” said Garaba.
He said they were also going to educate the public about Paralympic Sport and its athletes and capture the spirit and vision of the Games.
Online Reporter