Government urges Commonwealth Games bound athletes to mint medals

Minister in the Office of the Vice President Sylvia Chalikosa, has urged the 38 athletes to mint medals at the 2018 Gold Coast Games in Australia and bring honor to the nation.

Speaking at a sendoff ceremony to the “Commonwealth Games” bound athletes at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) on Thursday 29th March, the minister said “she is aware that most of the athletes have prepared adequately for the games” adding that “majority of the athletes have participated in competitive games and brought medals back home”.

She commended the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development, National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ), Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC), and the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) for ensuring that the nation sends a good representation at the much anticipated sporting event in Australia.

And speaking earlier Youth, Sport and Child Development minister Moses Mawere in a speech read on his behalf by his permanent secretary Joe Kapembwa, said a total of 38 athletes and 16 officials will travel to Australia stating that this is in line with the national sports policy that promotes the participation of athletes in high level competitions such as the commonwealth Games.

He also announced that an advance party has already travelled to Australia led by the Chef De mission for team Zambia.

Eight sports disciplines namely; Athletics, Boxing, Rugby Sevens, Lawn Bowls, Table Tennis, Badminton and swimming will be represented for team Zambia.

Some of the notable 2018 Commonwealth games bound athletes are; Sydney Siame (athletics), Benny Muziyo (Boxing), Olga Siamupangila (Badminton), Tilka Paljk (swimming), Katungu Kennedy (Table Tennis) and Kalumbu Israel (Rugby Sevens).

The 2018 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XXI Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Gold Coast 2018, is an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth that will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia between 4 and 15 April 2018.