The Sunday Mail
A series of entertainment acts will mark both the official opening and closing ceremonies of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region V U20 Youth Games which explode in the country’s second city of Bulawayo next month.
President Mugabe will officiate at the two ceremonies to be staged at Barbourfields Stadium, with the official opening taking place on December 5, while the closing function has been set for the night of December 15.
Andrew Langa, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, told a media briefing last week that Bulawayo would reverberate to a galaxy of musical and theatrical performances, with the city’s iconic Barbourfields Stadium picked as the centrepiece of the action.
Hillside Teachers’ College has been spruced up as the Games venue.
“All roads lead to Bulawayo,’’ Minister Langa said.
“Barbourfields will host the official opening and closing ceremonies. We have lined up a number of entertainment events of various groups from the City of Kings on the opening day, while some will come from Harare and elsewhere. There will also be a Culture Night afterwards. Renovations for the ground are complete and I am sure everything is ready,’’ he said.
Langa also appealed to the media to provide full coverage of the historic extravaganza which is being organised by Zimbabwe for the first time.
Eight venues have been earmarked for the eight sporting disciplines on the menu that will feature 1 600 athletes from nine countries. Team Zimbabwe, represented by chef de mission Sebastian Garikayi, has since set itself a target total of 40 medals from the 290 athletes who will be on duty at the Games.
