THE Sports Commission and the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee undertook an organisational assessment of the local sports supreme body yesterday. This was done to establish the strengths and weaknesses of the Sports Commission in delivering the Community Sport Development Programme.

The objectives of the assessment were to identify the strengths and weaknesses associated with the delivery of the Community Sport Development Programme (CSDP) in the communities and to also identify opportunities that the Sports Commission may tap into regarding the delivery of the programme.

As part of the workshop proceedings, administrative and financial systems that the Sports Commission is currently employing were scrutinised and rated.

Generally, it was noted that the Sports Commission was following the international "best practices" though there were resource constraints to effectively and efficiently deliver the programme to the communities so as to make long lasting impact in the community.

The Sports Commission largely relies on the fiscus to fund its programmes like the Zimbabwe National Youth Games and National Paralympic Games, among others, and of late the Government has also been finding it difficult to fund the programmes owing to other competing demands in the economy hence the need for more partners to augment the Government's support.

The results of the final assessment will be used to determine the needs of the Sports Commission and where possible, to justify the need for more support to the body.

The workshop is being carried out by Diane Huffman and Linda Tore'ge from the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF).