By Tapiwa Chawagarira
KWEKWE — The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) on Saturday brought the excitement of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games to the Midlands, with about 500 children converging at Mbizo Stadium for the local leg of the “We Run for Africa – Dakar 2026 Flame Tour”.
The colourful festival, which targeted young people aged between 12 and 16, combined sport, culture and education in a programme designed to inspire the next generation of Zimbabwean athletes while promoting the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship.
Mbizo Stadium was transformed into a hive of activity as the young participants took part in a fun run and various sporting activities, including basketball, aerobics, tennis, handball, football and volleyball.
The initiative also placed emphasis on clean sport, with participants receiving education on the importance of integrity and competing fairly as part of efforts to nurture responsible athletes from an early age.
The Kwekwe event forms part of the build-up to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which will make history as the first Olympic event to be staged on African soil.
The Games are scheduled for October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Senegal, with Zimbabwe expected to send a delegation of 11 young athletes who will compete in six disciplines — swimming, judo, athletics, equestrian, cycling and triathlon.
ZOC’s decision to take the flame tour to Kwekwe provided Midlands youngsters with an opportunity to experience the Olympic movement first-hand while giving them a glimpse of the opportunities that sport can offer.
Beyond identifying and nurturing sporting talent, the programme is expected to strengthen awareness of Olympic principles among young people and encourage them to embrace active and healthy lifestyles.
With Dakar 2026 drawing closer, the Kwekwe festival added momentum to Zimbabwe’s preparations while bringing the excitement of the historic continental Games closer to communities across the country.
