BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province Resident Minister and Governor Ambassador Cain Mathema yesterday officially opened the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games in a colourful ceremony held at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
Mathema read a speech on behalf of the Minister of the Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, who could not attend the ceremony due to other commitments as he was only notified that he would be the guest of honour, late.
“It is my pleasure to officiate at the 11th edition of the Youth Games which were coincidentally incepted in this province some 11 years ago. When the Games were started in 2003, part of the objectives were to increase young people’s accessibility to sport and recreation and to also use the Games as a platform by which young talented athletes could be identified by the National Sport Associations and nurtured further.
“As government we are happy to note that we have managed to host these Games on an annual basis. To add to this, all the 10 provinces have been afforded an opportunity to host the games on a rotational basis thus contributing to the attainment of balanced development of sport in the country,” he said.
He said sport is important because it can be an effective tool of community development and can contribute to social equality notwithstanding colour, race, creed, religion or economic status. The Governor also said the games were important as they have produced some of the country’s top athletes.
“I am informed that the Zimbabwe National Youth Games are beginning to pay dividends in the form of athletes who have been identified and nurtured through these games. It was pleasing to note that one of the athletes, Gabriel Mvumvure, who was also identified through these games, recently completed in the World Athletics Championships in Russia,” he said.
He said the games were also used as a platform to identify athletes like Ngonidzashe Makusha who won bronze at the World Championships in 2011 in South Korea, Angela Makaha who is on an athletics scholarship in the United States and Vitalis Chikoko who is now playing professional basketball in Germany.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Speaking during the ceremony Principal Director in the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Paul Damasane also highlighted the crucial role the games play.
“The government takes the Youth Games very seriously because it is a platform for sport development. Today (yesterday) is special to the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture because next year we will be in Bulawayo for the regional Under-20 Zone VI Games. This is going to be a dress rehearsal for us to see how well Bulawayo will prepare for the games,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by athletes from the country’s 10 provinces as well as different stakeholders who included Sport and Recreation Commission board chairperson Joseph James, Bulawayo Local Organising Committee members led by Raj Modi, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee chief executive officer Anna Mguni and president Admire Masenda and Child President Ntando Moyo.
Mathema lit the games lamp towards the end of the ceremony to officially declare the start of the games.
Entertainment was provided by world renowned acapella group Black Umfolosi who performed their famous song Unity, Iyasa, Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, Harsh Touch and the Zimbabwe National Army band.
