The Zimbabwean
24 May 2013
The National University of Science and Technology, which presently accommodates 32 students, will soon house 4, 000 students following government’s approval to invest $42 million in sporting and residence infrastructural development, to host the Zone VI, 2014 Under 20 youth games in Bulawayo.
“The games provide a unique opportunity to address the lack of residential accommodation at the National University of Science and Technology to construct a suitable Games Village at the campus that houses 4, 000 athletes,†said Minister of Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, in a press statement.
Coltart said it was up to the country to choose the host city for the games in which Harare and Bulawayo were in contention.
“Accordingly a key component of the decision is the construction of halls of residences at NUST which will be used as the Games Village to accommodate over 4, 000 young men and women sportspersons from SADC region in December 2014,†said Coltart.
Coltart said, after the tournament, the Games Village would be handed over to the university to provide residential accommodation for some 4, 000 students with effect from January 2015.
“At present NUST can only accommodate 32 students although it has a student body of several thousands,†added Coltart.
The Zone VI under 20 youth games is part of Supreme Council for Sport in Africa under the auspices of Africa Union.
The tournament which has sporting disciplines in athletics, boxing, netball, tennis, swimming, football and judo is a biennial sport platform aimed at improving the development of sport in the SADC region in preparation for continental and global sport competitions.
Some of the various learning institutions and public sporting facilities that will be used and are set to receive major rehabilitation include Bulawayo Polytechnic, Hillside Teacher’s College, City Hall, Bulawayo Club for the Blind, Bulawayo Athletic Club, Barbourfields and White City stadia, Parirenyatwa Pool, and six local schools.