Race against time for Region 5 games

Ministry of Youth and Sports is  racing against time to complete sports infrastructure and at the same time, prepare a team for the African Union Sports Council (Ausc) Region Five Under-20 Youth Games scheduled for  Lilongwe in December.

Construction of the Aquatic Sports Centre at Kamuzu Institute for Sports and Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex is ongoing.

The renovations at Silver, Bingu and Civo stadiums as well as Nalikule Teachers College, which will be used as the games’ village by about 3000 athletes and officials, have just started.

Ausc Region Five chief executive officer Stanley Mutoya from Botswana said though the infrastructure is not ready, they are confident the country will make it.

He said: “Everything is not in place and we do not expect everything to be in place at the moment, but we are on course.

“We are happy with the status of preparedness. We have no doubt that Malawi will host successful games.

“We are pleased with the commitment from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Work is still in progress.”

On his part, Minister of Youth and Sports Richard Chimwendo Banda was upbeat that the venues will be ready by November.

He said: “We are committed to delivering successful games come December.  We have made strides in preparations and the venues, such as the Aquatic Sports Centre at Kamuzu Institute for Sports and Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex are nearing completion and will be ready for the games.

“The Aquatic Sports Centre is progressing well and everything is on track and on schedule.

“At the Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports complex, we are doing the roofing and final touches inside. We expect the facility to be ready by November.”

On athletes preparations, the minister said K1.6 billion was allocated to the local organising committee in the 2022-2023 budget towards training and camping for the 12 sports disciplines that will representthe country during the games.

Chimwendo Banda said: “But construction projects like the Griffin Saenda Indoor Sports Complex and Aquatic Sports Centre as well as the rehabilitation of venues and village home have separate resources which can be tapped in once the need arises.

“So, in total the budget is K13 billion. This investment is worth it because apart from promoting sports, hosting of the games has huge benefits with many returns.”

He said some of the benefits are revenue generation through participation fee and taxes, promotion of tourism, sports and infrastructure capacity development and in flow of foreign currency.

Chimwendo Banda said the construction projects of venues and rehabilitation of village homes has already created employment.

The minister said construction of Aquatic Sports Centre has created 400 jobs whereas 350 people are employed at the Griffin Saenda Indoor Complex.

On her part, the games’ local organising committee CEO Emma Mabvumbwe was upbeat about hosting a successful event.

She said: “We are geared up and will deliver beyond expectations.

“We are working together with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports and representatives from AUSC, who are in the country, supporting and giving us guidelines as well as the private sector. We are making good progress.”

On training, Malawi National Council of Sports spokesperson Edgar Ntulumbwa said about 300 athletes will be regrouping in few weeks for a second camping.