LACK of support from the corporate sector is hampering the growth of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games (ZNYG) that are crucial in developing sports in the country, the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) has said.
The games were initiated in 2003 as the country’s strategy to identify sporting talents for young people aged below 20 years for further development, training and exposure.
SRC spokesperson Tirivashe Nheweyembwa told The Patriot in an interview that due to economic hardship being experienced in the country, government funding to boost resources for the games was limited.
He said some provinces were facing difficulties to acquire the much needed resources to enable their athletes to participate in the competition.
“Corporate sector support for the National Youth Games is very low and this has affected us in mobilising resources to grow the games,” he said.
“Private companies should come and support the ZNYG as they will also get a favourable opportunity to market their products.”
Every year the games attract more than 3 000 participants that include athletes and officials from all the provinces.
Nheweyembwa said most companies were avoiding the games due to misconceptions that they are driven by hidden political agendas.
“The National Youth Games are apolitical and athletes are selected from all the provinces based on merit in line with the SRC Act,” he said.
Due to lack of funding, the national youth games are failing to incorporate more popular sporting disciplines such as swimming, cricket, hockey and rugby among others.
Currently, athletes are participating in eight sporting activities, football, basketball, volleyball, boxing, netball, tennis, hand ball and athletics.
Nheweyembwa however said, preparations for this year’s edition of the ZNYG to be held in Masvingo have reached an advanced stage with major work having been completed.
“We are hoping that all the provinces will participate as most of them are through with the selection of participating athletes,” he said.
“Most rehabilitation work for the venues where the games will be played around Masvingo is almost complete.”