By Nick Butler

The funding will help Zimbabwe build on their performances at the London 2012 Olympic Games ©Getty ImagesMarch 1 - Zimbabwe's National Olympic Committee has taken advantage of Olympic Solidarity funding to distribute equipment to seven different sports associations.


The equipment, worth $30,000 (£18,000/€22,000), has been distributed to the Governing Bodies responsible for athletics, basketball, netball, rugby union, tennis, triathlon and volleyball..

It consists of balls, running spikes, megaphones, nets, rackets and stopwatches and is designed to help with training and education programmes, assistance in purchasing equipment and participation in competition.

The funding was unveiled at a function in Harare, where Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) President Admire Masenda described it as an ongoing programme designed to bring about sporting improvement. 

"ZOC, through an Olympic Solidarity supported programme called the NOC Activities Grant, has purchased equipment for selected national associations who are affiliated to ZOC," he said.

"This is an ongoing programme that will benefit other national associations over the next four years.

"Targeted first were ZOC prioritised sports, those in good standing and sporting disciplines that are under consideration for the Africa Youth Games."

The occasion was also used as a platform to present Addison Chiware and Titus Zvomuya as the Chef de Mission's of Zimbabwe teams at the Africa Youth Games in Gabarone, Botswana, and the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, later this year. 

Luke Steyn became the first person from Zimbabwe to compete at a Winter Olympics last month ©Getty ImagesThe funding will hope to build on the success of Luke Steyn becoming the country's first ever Winter Olympian in Sochi last month ©Getty Images




Luke Steyn became Zimbabwe's first ever Winter Olympian in Sochi last month and came a creditable 57th in the giant slalom before being among many skiers to fail to finish the gruelling slalom course.

Most of Zimbabwe's Olympic success in recent years has come by virtue of swimmer Kirsty Coventry who, after winning seven Olympic medals, including one gold at both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, is now a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

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