Zimpapers Logo

Wednesday in Victoria Falls.
The meeting pencilled for Wednesday and Thursday is meant to prepare the chef de missions for the 2012 Olympic Games in London and representatives from 25 English-speaking countries from the continent are set to converge in the resort town.
Representatives from the International Olympic Committee, Anoca and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games are also expected to attend the meeting.
ZOC chief executive, Stanley Mutoya, said the 65 delegates are scheduled to start arriving today.
“We are ready for the delegates, we have completed our preparations. Delegates will start arriving on Monday (today). We have representatives from IOC and Anoca. Five people from the London Games organising committee are also coming.
“The workshop is meant for the chef de missions in order to update them and bring to their attention some of the issues pertaining to the 2012 London Games,” said Mutoya.
Mutoya said some of the issues to be discussed include accreditation, which will include a practical lesson during the meeting, team entries and antidoping, among other issues.
“The accreditation process include a practical lesson for the chef de missions because it will be electronic. They will also discuss the team entries and timeline, media accreditation, antidoping and the qualifying process and standards among other issues.
“The London organising committee will give an update on the state of preparedness,” said Mutoya.
The ZOC boss said the move by the IOC to allow them to host the event is a vote of confidence in the local National Olympic Committee.
“It’s a vote of confidence by the IOC. We were chosen to host and mentor other National Olympic Committees.
We submitted a bid to host the secretary-generals seminar, which was eventually awarded to Mali, though our bid was unsuccessful, Anoca were impressed and gave us this forum.
“It’s a challenge and we should as well rise up to the challenge. For the nation it is one area that sells the brand Zimbabwe as it coincides with the Tourism Day on September 27,” added Mutoya.
Among the presenters is former ZOC chief executive, Robert Mutsauki, who now holds the post of technical director at Anoca.