Sport and Recreation minister, Makhosini Hlongwane continued his tour of Matabeleland on Friday when he officially launched the 2016 Zimbabwe National Paralympic Games in Gwanda, Matabeleland South. Gwanda is host to the ninth edition of the games, which have been slated for April 4 to 9.
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Hlongwane challenged the province and the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee to leave no stone unturned in efforts to make their first-ever opportunity to host these games a resounding success.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as we prepare to host these games which are a key milestone in our calendar, I want to encourage you to pay attention to every detail and not leave things to chance. As you host the games, please take note that the whole nation’s eyes will be on you, hence the need to deliver high-quality games which will be an envy of many,” he said.
“More often than not, I have heard people saying that it is difficult to court sponsors for the games. However, if we properly package our programmes, they can become attractive to potential sponsors. Sponsors need to see value and a good return for their investments and we need to demonstrate this to them so that they can partner our brands. The contribution of the corporate world in running the games will also go a long way in reducing a dependency on the fiscus, whose space is already tight,” Hlongwane added.
This year’s games are important because they come in the same year as the global Summer Paralympic Games set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in September and could uncover more athletes to represent the country on the international stage.
