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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
MATABELELAND North residents have been challenged to embrace the rebranded National Youth Games so that the annual event leaves a lasting legacy.

The Games will be held from August 17-24 and mark the second time they’re being staged in the province since their inception, but the first rebranded edition with 22 sport codes compared to the previous eight.

Organisers held a meeting with the Victoria Falls community on Tuesday to market the Games and to rope in residents into sub-committees.

There are 14 sub-committees comprising five members each.

The committees are protocol, accreditation, secretariat, accommodation, security, catering, ceremonies, technical, resource mobilisation, volunteers, medical, marketing and publicity, transport and edutainment and infrastructure.

The same process is also taking place in Hwange, Lupane and Bulawayo where sub-committees have been established to prepare for the Games.

Speaking at a meeting held in the Victoria Falls Municipality boardroom on Tuesday, Ministry of Sport and Recreation deputy director for the Southern Region Isaiah Mpofu said the annual Games present business opportunities for locals.

“These Games should leave a legacy so we should all participate,” said Mpofu.

He said the Games aim to identify and nurture talent, inculcate Olympism, enhance capability in coaches and athletes, develop human capacity and assist in developing infrastructure, among other goals.

He said the rebranded games would feature four focus groups, the Under-20 age group drawn from schools in the 10 administrative provinces, Under-23s comprising tertiary institutions, community teams and uniformed forces comprising the Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services.

Sports and Recreation Commission commissioner Clement Mukwasi said:

“These Games are not coming as charity, but a business opportunity for all of us. Let’s all identify areas where we can contribute and at the same time create opportunities for ourselves.”

SRC co-ordinator for Matabeleland North Newman Masuku said people with a vision are needed in sub-committees for the Games to be a success.

The technical committee is yet to finalise on where some events will be held, although Hwange will host the majority.

Bulawayo will host cricket, hockey and swimming.

@ncubeleon