The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
THE National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) president, Tendai Tagara, says they will wait for the Sports and Recreation Commission’s guidelines on the framework to be used upon the resumption of competitions.
Government has gazetted the legal provisions allowing the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation to classify sporting activities by risk of Covid-19 infection, permit low-risk sport events, and telling sports associations how to apply for exemptions for low-risk activity.
The announcement of exemption of low-risk sporting activities was made by Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo, under the lockdown provisions, with the Sports Minister having the final say on what is allowed and the conditions that need to be applied.
This activates the policy announced by President Mnangagwa to permit, during the indefinite Level Two lockdown, low-risk sports activity.
Tagara said: “We are waiting for the Ministry, through the Sports and Recreation Commission, to give us guidelines or the operational framework for resumption. We do not want to resume and then be found wanting.
“Remember when the President proclaimed that 50 people could meet, we wanted to run with 20 people, but other quarters went all over us. We want to ensure that when we start, our backs will be covered.”
Athletics, just like any other sporting discipline, has been greatly affected by Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
Professional athletes who depend on proceeds from competitions for survival have also been greatly affected.
On the other hand, some athletes need to use local competitions in preparation for upcoming international competitions. For example, Zimbabwe’s top female long-distance runner, Rutendo Nyahora, wants to go a gear up in her build-up for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifiers when South Africa eases its lockdown starting June 1.
Nyahora is based in South Africa and is eyeing her second Olympic Games appearance. South African authorities announced last weekend that they will be easing their lockdown from the beginning of next month when they move to Level Three.
Nyahora has represented the country in several major events, including the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.
The following year, she competed at the World Championships in London.
Last year, she was the only Zimbabwean female athlete who made to the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Nyahora has made it clear she would want to return to the Olympics.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are now scheduled for next year.
With athletics qualifying events expected to resume in December if the situation permits, athletes remain hopeful.
