Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Augustine Hwata
3 October 2008
Harare — THE 20th edition of the annual Danhiko Games roar into life today with the chairman of the organising committee Godfrey Majonga confident of a successful event.
Majonga said the games started with just 12 teams and a little over 300 participants in 1988 but had 70 teams at last year's edition.
He said there were over 1 500 athletes last year but he expects the numbers to drop this year.
"Because of the economic challenges facing us this year, we have fewer sponsors and therefore less teams are going to come.
"I am expecting about 50 teams and over 1 400 people to take part," said Majonga.
Majonga said the Games were grateful to First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe who is the major sponsor of the competition this year as well as patron of Danhiko.
He said Delta has also continued to support the competition that brings together disabled athletes.
"We expect the teams to arrive at Danhiko College on Friday (Today) morning and then we will start the competitions in the afternoon.
"The official opening will be on Saturday at 10 am and will be done by Amai Mugabe.
"Our official closing ceremony is on Sunday afternoon and we will have the acting Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, Flora Buka officiating," said Majonga. Athletes, depending on their levels and nature of disabilities, will take part in wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, goal-ball, netball, track and field.
Top wheelchair athletes like Edmund Makutya, Elford Moyo and Alex Mukanhla are expected to dominate the road races while the Special Olympics Zimbabwe will be fielding teams in swimming and track events.
Special Olympics athletics coach Owen Makaruwa expects schools from Harare to field mentally challenged athletes for the five-aside soccer, swimming and track events. The Danhiko Games are coming after the inaugural Zimbabwe Paralympic Games in Bulawayo last month.
Masvingo Province, fielding athletes from Capota and Jairos Jiri, won the Games.
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