Region V Games mascot arrives from SA

Sport
THE African Union Region V Youth Games mascot arrived yesterday afternoon in Bulawayo as the city prepares to host the games in December.

THE African Union Region V Youth Games mascot arrived yesterday afternoon in Bulawayo as the city prepares to host the games in December.

THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

The elephant arrived yesterday with a member of the local organising committee from South Africa. The mascot will be unveiled on Saturday after which it will be paraded around the city in a roadshow to promote the games.

About 2000 athletes and officials from 15 different countries are expected in the city in December for the games which have already been held in Zambia, Swaziland, South Africa, Namibia and Mozambique.

The local organising committee (LOC) is also expected to announce the name of the mascot this week although comment could not be obtained from the organisers.

The elephant (indlovu) is one of the symbols on the Bulawayo emblem and has always been used on a number of logos in the city, including the Zimbabwe National Youth Games Bulawayo team.

Roadshows will start from the city centre to high-density suburbs such as Mpopoma, Njube, Nkulumane, Nketa as well as low density areas like Famona.

The LOC recently said the mascot would help create awareness about the Region V Under-20 Youth Games and it will be the key marketing tool.

Countries that are expected to participate are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zimbabwe. The games will be held under the theme “Reach for Greatness”.

Bulawayo Athletic Club, Bulawayo City Pool, Barbourfields Stadium, Luveve Stadium and White City Stadium will be the venues for the game.

The venues are undergoing extensive refurbishments in preparation for the showcase that will see athletes compete in sporting disciplines which include athletics, basketball, boxing, football, judo, netball, tennis and swimming.

More than $9 million was committed towards the construction and refurbishment of infrastructure.

Construction of the venues is expected to be completed by the end of this month with the local organising committee handing them over to the regional organising committee.