Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-African countries should use sport as part of their response to unemployment ass it has potential to create jobs, drive innovation and connect industries, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry said on Wednesday.
She said this while virtually addressing delegates attending the inaugural Kuzana Sport and Creative Economy Expo Zimbabwe (SCEEZ) 2026, being held at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES).
The Expo, running from October 7 is a platform intended to bring sport, creative industries, investors, policymakers and businesses together.
It is aimed to connect talent with capital, partnerships and commercial opportunities in support of Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goals.
The Zimbabwe ghovernment has identified the development of sport as an impontant component of the economic growth strategy, with the Kuzana plarform seeking to strengthen links between sports, business and investment.
“Sport creates jobs, it builds skills, it drives innovation, it opens doors for entrepreneurs and creators, and it connects with so many other sectors, from arts and culture to the creative industries,” said Coventrty.
“This matters especially for Africa. If we want to create jobs, build skills at scale and support Africa’s growth, then sport should be a part of the solution, because when we invest in sport, we invest in people,” she added.
A former Olympic gold medalist in swimming as well as former Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister, Coventry said the focus of the expo on turning talent into opportunity and economic value resonated with her, drawing on her own journey as an athlete and her later service to sport in Zimbabwe.
She cited the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as an example of the way major sporting events can create lasting opportunities, with the games being the first Olympic sporting event held in Africa.
“Through the Dakar 2026 Learning Academy, more than 400 young professionals are being trained in games delivery,” Coventry said, adding that the Olympic Values Education Program aims to reach 900 000 young people across 11 000 schools in Senegal.
“That is what lasting impact looks like, giving young people skills, experience and opportunities that will remain long after the games are over,” she said, adding Zimbabwe has abundant talent, which needs to be supported to turn it into jobs, businesses and sustainable livelihoods.
New Ziana
