The Sunday News
Sports Correspondent
THE Africa Union Sports Council Region Five Youth Games local organising committee is seeking the services of volunteers as preparations for the Games in Bulawayo intensify. LOC director of marketing Kenny Ndebele said they were looking at recruiting more than 1 100 volunteers that will play a critical role in ensuring the successful hosting of the games.
“We are appealing to the Bulawayo community to come in their numbers and apply to be part of this big event as we play host to over 1 400 athletes, 1 000 officials from at least 11 countries for the duration of the sporting event. In every event of such a magnitude, whether locally or internationally, volunteers are important in ensuring the events are memorable and are a success,” he said.
The Games will run from 4 December to 14 December.
Ndebele said they were looking for volunteers in various areas ranging from accreditation, catering, medical section, ceremonies and edutainment, transport and logistics, media, information and marketing, protocol and venues.
He challenged the people of Bulawayo to rise to the occasion and ensure they are at the forefront of making the Games memorable.
“While we are making the call at a national level, we believe the community of Bulawayo should be the ones who make the Games a success and would effectively play great hosts to the visitors,” said Ndebele.
Also among the volunteers being sought are ambulance drivers, nurses, medical doctors, firefighters, team escorts, cleaners, waiters, French and Portuguese interpreters, pitch attendants, data capture clerks, cooks, general hands, protocol co-ordinators, stewards and first aiders.
Ndebele said they would also need a volunteer who will play the role of mascot.
Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity and is intended to cultivate a culture of giving hence it is usually directed to young people.
While there is no financial gain for the individual involved, volunteers are likely to benefit through skills development, socialisation and through networking opportunities that present themselves.
Countries expected to take part in the Games include AUSC Region Five member states Zimbabwe, Zambia, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Botswana and Angola while invitations have been extended to DRC, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles.
The Zone Six Games were inaugurated in 2004 in Mozambique following a Council of Ministers of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa Zone VI meeting held in 1997 in Cabinda, Angola. On 7 September 1999 during a special meeting of the Zone Six Supreme Council for Sport in Africa in Johannesburg, it was agreed that the Games be held bi–annually on a compulsory and rotational basis by the member states.
The Games have since been organised and hosted by Mozambique 2004, Namibia 2006, South Africa 2008, Swaziland 2010 and Zambia played host to the fifth edition in 2012.
The aim of the event is to use sport to achieve peace, integration and unity in Africa and sport as a vehicle for encouraging people to develop and come together irrespective of colour, economic status, political inclination, class or gender.
