Youth Games roar into life

THE sixth edition of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games roar into life today in the usually sleepy city of Bulawayo with 10 countries expected to battle it out in various sporting disciplines. Zimbabwe is hosting the competitions, formerly known as the Zone Six Under 20 Games under the theme “Reach for Greatness.”
President Robert Mugabe is expected to officially open the event which runs until December 14.

The hosting of the games comes after the country hosted the All Africa Games in 1995 and expectations are high that Bulawayo will successfully host the games. Ten countries under the Region 5 banner- South Africa, Swaziland, Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Lesotho and hosts Zimbabwe are participating in eight sporting disciplines which are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, tennis and swimming.

Sporting facilities which had long become defunct and had their best years behind them have been given a new lease of life as various games venues have undergone major renovations and sprucing up.  Babourfields, ZITF, Luveve, White City stadiums, as well as Large City Hall, Bulawayo Athletics Club and Bulawayo Swimming Pool are the games’ venues. Hillside Teachers College will be used as the games’ village and hostels.

The benefits of hosting the AUSC games are likely to remain with Bulawayo residents who will enjoy use of the renovated facilities which will also be capable of playing host to international events. Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa, urged Bulawayo community to support the games. “As you know White City has always been our main worry. But it’s now ready for the games. What is left is for the Bulawayo community to support the games,” he said.

Government committed US$9 million for refurbishment of various facilities in the city of Bulawayo and US$4,5 million for operations towards the games. Team Zimbabwe has set itself a target of 40 medals at this year’s AUSC Region 5 Under 20 Youth Games, a feat Team Zimbabwe chef de mission Sebastian Garikai admitted was a bar too high.

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