Inaugural Inter-house Athletics Competition

THE development of grassroots sports structures has been hailed as a pathway for identifying and producing world-class sporting talent in the country.

The hunt for Zimbabwe’s next sporting hero continues, with hope being reignited by the recent promise shown by athletes at the 2024 Africa Games.

Following Kirsty Coventry’s Olympic legacy, the nation craves for another golden champion on the world stage. The answer, many believe, lies in a strong grassroots sports development system.

Experts suggest a robust grassroots structure as the key to unearthing and nurturing world-class talent. Harvard Junior School exemplified this vision by hosting its inaugural inter-house athletics competition.

The organiser, Loice Magweba said, “It’s very important as the nation to support this because some children are not talented academically, so what we need to do is to have talent identification from this young age.”

“Our curriculum now has a focus on children developed in every talent that they have got as they do the athletics, we’re able to identify some of the talents that can be developed so that they develop to their full potential,’ said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Harare Metropolitan Province’s deputy director, Mrs. Fungai Koza.

The benefits of sports extend far beyond physical fitness and medals.

“Usain Bolt is my idol because no matter what, he strives to win and to represent his country Jamaica, and one day I want to represent Zimbabwe,” said a student.

Another said, “It’s our first time in Harvard history to be doing such competitions, the inter-house competitions.”

The significance of sports extends far beyond the competition itself. Over the years, the industry has flourished into a multi-billion dollar force, while simultaneously fostering unity across ethnicities, races, and tribal divides.