MILLICENT HUNGWE
The Safe Summer Sport Festival which was used for promoting inclusion and showcasing the talents of young athletes from six primary schools and four secondary schools from Masvingo at Mucheke stadium was an eye opener.
The event, funded by the Zimbabwe Olympics Committee, brought together 500 participants, including blind, deaf, and mute individuals, who demonstrated their skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Netball, volleyball, soccer and tennis were the sport codes participated by learners.
Guest of honor and former national coach, Mhike, emphasized the importance of this event, stating, “This is a great opportunity for our children to showcase their different talents in different sports codes and also creates relations between themselves.”
The festival concluded with a rope game, where ZOC and teachers faced off, unfortunately resulting in four consecutive losses for the them.
In his closing remarks, Masvingo Province Sport Director Frederick Matavikwa announced plans for more friendly games to promote safe and inclusive sports in all primary and secondary schools.
“This initiative aligns with global efforts to promote inclusivity in sports. Strategies for inclusivity include equal opportunity and pay, mixed-gender sports leagues, education and awareness training, anti-discrimination policies, safe space and ally training, outreach and grassroots initiatives, diversity training, equal representation initiatives, and monitoring and reporting,” said Tawanda Sithole the International Safeguard Officer of ZOC.
