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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
AFRICAN Volleyball Confederation (CAVB) Zone VI president Fredrick Ndlovu has hailed the impact of the Safe Sport programme for aiding athletes lengthen their careers and practise fair play at all times.

Players at the on-going CAVB Zone VI Club Volleyball Championships in Bulawayo took time off the court on Tuesday to learn about the Safe Sport programme.

Safe Sport is an initiative that started four years ago with the aim of identifying issues that affect athletes, ranging from harassment and abuse as well as providing a conducive environment for athletes to showcase their talent.

CAVB Zone VI and the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) in conjunction with the Norway Olympic Committee (Nic) initiated the programme at the volleyball championships to a resounding response.

Ndlovu said the Safe Sport initiative is primed to change the lives of the athletes.

“Most of these athletes do not know their rights and programmes such as this go a long way in shaping an upright athlete. The reception of the players has been tremendous, which is impressive,” said Ndlovu.

The Safe Sport representative from Kenya, George Nyange, said the programme has been largely welcomed by the athletes, who were responsive to the lessons.

“The key thing that informed us to come up with the programme was that after doing our research we found out that athletes were not performing to their full potential because of issues of abuse, sexual and verbal harassment, age cheating and corruption,” said Nyange.

“Athletes get into sport and see these things already there and they fall into the system. We are hoping to do away with things like corruption and match fixing as well as doping in sport. We want to promote the athletes’ rights and ensure that they are safe.

“The safety of athletes in any sport is of paramount importance to us. We have to do away with abuse and misconduct in sport. This includes not only on-court safety, but also off-court safety in any part of our programmes. We are committed to creating safe and fun environments for youth. This includes, but is not limited to, providing training, educational materials and resources for our regions, clubs, coaches and parents,” he said.