The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
THE Zimbabwe Olympic Committee has begun engaging national associations that will be sending athletes to Rio 2016 as preparations for the global showpiece gather steam.
The meetings are to ensur the associations are fully aware of the rules governing participation at the Olympics.
ZOC chief executive Anna Mguni said they held their maiden meeting last week with representatives of athletics, equestrian, football, shooting, rowing and swimming.
“The first port of call was to meet the national associations at the first CDM or management meeting on Thursday,” she said. “The meeting deliberately provided guidelines for participation at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games – what it means to qualify and the requisite roles and responsibilities of parties involved.
“From here on ZOC will communicate with the national associations for specific information required in the various phases that they are now in.
“This includes the call for preparation plans, athlete long lists and medical information to name but a few.” With Team Zimbabwe’s delegation likely to be bigger than is usually the case, thanks to the qualification of the Mighty Warriors, ZOC will have to mobilise a bigger budget to cater for athletes’ welfare.
“Internally the ZOC has initiated the various activities required for preparation and participation at an Olympic Games, key aspects being technical verification, budget formulation and essentially resource mobilisation,” said Mguni.
The Estimated Team Size according to Mguni and in accordance with International Olympic Committee Rule 38, currently totals 59 – 32 athletes and 27 officials.
The travelling party can still increase significantly should the Sevens rugby team make it to the games.
The Cheetahs fell short of qualification after losing to Kenya in the Africa Cup Olympic qualifiers in South Africa last month.
However, they can still grab a ticket to Rio if they win the repechage tournament – which are trials in which losers are given another chance to qualify – in April 2016.
Qualified disciplines
Athletics – 3 in marathon
Equestrian – 1 slot to be confirmed
Football – 1 team (Women)
Rowing – 2 slots confirmed
Swimming – 1 athlete
Disciplines pursuing qualification
Athletics – Marathon and sprinters
Golf – 1 athlete currently in the top 60 for Olympic Men’s Rankings as at 03.12.15 (Brendan de Jonge)
Rugby Sevens Men – Repechage event in April 2016
Shooting – competed in Egypt (Olympic Qualifier – Mike Nicholson)
Swimming – 2 male athletes
