BULAWAYO Metropolitan Province clinched their first-ever Zimbabwe National Youth Games title after winning the 2013 edition of the games which ended in the city yesterday. Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter
The hosts emerged winners in this year’s edition of the Youth Games, which began on Monday after scooping 16 gold, 12 silver and 12 bronze bringing the number to 40. Harare Province who have dominated the games having won nine times since their inception in 2003, relinquished the title after dropping dismally to fourth position.
Masvingo won the 2004 edition, but came second this year with 10 gold, nine silver and three bronze and next year they will host the 12th edition of the games.
On third spot was Mashonaland East who were square on 10 gold with Masvingo, but faltered on the silver-picking up seven and 10 bronze while Harare collected eight gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze.
The Midlands came fifth with seven gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals, Mashonaland Central were sixth with six gold, five silver and six bronze while Manicaland followed on position seven after getting five gold, six silver and eight bronze. Matabeleland South was on position eight with five gold, three silver and 16 bronze medals.
Mashonaland West were on position nine with one gold, five silver and eight bronze while Matabeleland North put up another dispiriting show coming last with one gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Matabeleland North was last in the last two editions of the Youth Games that were hosted by Mashonaland Central and Matabeleland South.
Speaking before the presentation of the prizes in the closing ceremony at White City Stadium the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture permanent secretary Constance Chigwamba praised Bulawayo for successfully hosting the games.
“It is an honour for me to be invited here to address you in the 11th edition of the Zimbabwe National Youth Games which have become a critical milestone in our calendar.
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“Hosting the games has become a mammoth task, but you defied all odds to ensure that the games went without any hiccups. “I am also informed that these games facilitated the construction of facilities in some schools and communities.
“The hosting of these games should therefore provide an impetus for development in the province,” she said. Chigwamba, the guest of honour, also urged communities to ensure that they take good care of the sports facilities because they are the beneficiaries and said it was important to ensure that sport is taken as a form of employment not as a pasttime event.
She also passed the Youth Games torch to Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke as his province will be hosting next year’s games. Bulawayo Province walked away with a trophy for being the overall winners of the Fair Play Award while Mashonaland East and Manicaland also received the Fair Play Award trophies sponsored by the Zimbabwe Olympic Commitee.
The hosts also walked away with the Most Improved Province Award while Masvingo were awarded a Most Organised Province Award. The top three provinces also recieved shields for their excellence.
