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Region V Games anti-doping centre set

Sport
THE African Union Sports Council Region V Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee has identified the Bulawayo City Council Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Pavilion as a suitable venue to set up a Doping and Treatment Centre for the games.

THE African Union Sports Council Region V Under-20 Youth Games local organising committee has identified the Bulawayo City Council Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Pavilion as a suitable venue to set up a Doping and Treatment Centre for the games.

NQOBILE BHEBHE

The Region V Youth Games will be hosted in Bulawayo from December 5 to 14.

President Robert Mugabe is scheduled to officially open the games. According to a council report, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) recently engaged council on the doping centre venue, a facility which is key for the LOC to be on the lookout for any doping case during the games.

The Director of Housing and Community Services Isaiah Magagula said the council acceded to the request but attacked conditions.

One of the sticking conditions was that the LOC should take care of the water and electricity bill that might accrue during the duration of the games.

Council pays about $7 000 half yearly as rentals for the pavilion. Other conditions where that council be indemnified against injury or loss of life, any promotional materials are removed and any structural damages are made good of at the end of the games and there should be a formal handover/takeover before applicants assume the use of the pavilion in order to verify its status.

The Director of Engineering Services concurred with the Acting City Economic Development Officer and pointed out that “while it was appreciated that the games will be held in Bulawayo, sight should not be lost that use of council facilities will incur such expenses as water and electricity bills.

“These bills have to be footed by someone and Council currently has liquidity constraints. It was recommended that Council accedes to the use of the Pavilion, but Local Organising Committee should meet the costs of water and electricity,” reads part of the report of the environmental management and engineering services committee.

However, deputy mayor, councillor Gift Banda objected to council charging the LOC for use of the facility, saying: “The residual benefits from these games would outweigh any costs likely to be incurred by council in availing this facility. It would only be reasonable therefore not to charge anything for use of these premises.”

Fifteen countries from the region will be hosted in December with participants taking part in athletics, netball, swimming, basketball, football, tennis, boxing and judo.

The facilities will leave a lasting legacy for Bulawayo with the City Pool being one of the areas targeted as there was no 25x25m pool for the juniors in the province for national competitions.