Zone VI plans sports accreditation and education office

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Thursday April 1, 2010 00:00

The office will enable the 10 Zone VI countries to work in harmony for the development of sports. The office will establish a regional framework of common reference points for accreditation, recognition and support in sport education.

Speaking at the Sport Pitso on Tuesday, a regional accreditation officer, Dacius Chipande said the office was found to be necessary after a survey that suggested that there is need for Southern African countries to work together in order to help each other in international competitions. He said the office will have a quality assurance structure to make sure that Southern African coaches and athletes are of international standard. Chipande said the office is not meant to replace the existing training systems but will advise on how they can be advanced. He said the office has come up with a model to make the region win at least 12 medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Chipande said once the accreditation is established, it will be easy to know who has capabilities at coaching at different levels because sports practitioners will be assured of quality training.

Meanwhile, the Botswana National Olympics Committee (BNOC) secretary general, Moses Moruise told the gathering that preparations for 2012 Olympics are at an advanced stage. He said the plan for the games has been drafted and that consultations on medal targets are being held with relevant stakeholders. He said their intention is to see the number of sport codes representing the country at the games increasing.

Until 2008 when swimming joined, Botswana has only been represented by athletics, bowling and boxing at the Olympics. Moruise said it is always easy to send individual sports athletes as it is cheaper than sending team codes. He stated that henceforth, they are ready to send all athletes who have qualified for the Olympics. Botswana first participated in the Olympics in 1970 but only managed to bring home a medal in the 1986 edition through bowling.