Africa-Press – Lesotho. The African Union Sports Commission (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games Regional Organizing Committee (ROC) and the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) are currently involved in an ongoing meeting
regarding the finalization of the upcoming tournament. Lesotho is to host 10 Southern African Development Countries (SADC); Angola, Botswana, ESwatini, Malawi,
Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa (SA), Zambia and Zimbabwe for the AUSC Region 5 games that are scheduled for December this year. The organizers have thus gathered for
deliberations at the meeting that will run until Friday. Speaking at the press briefing on Tuesday, ROC Chairperson Stanley Mutoya noted that these games are intended to
bring solidarity among the people in the Region 5. He reported that the Head of States signed the protocol on Culture, Information and Sport of Southern
African Development Community (SADC) in Blantyre, Malawi on the 14 August 2001 that allowed the invitation of non SADC member countries, adding that Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar will be part of the guests in these games.
Mutoya indicated that the overall objective of the meeting is to formulate key developments and plot preparations under different sporting codes which will part take in the tournament.
These are athletics, basketball, boxing, football, gymnastics, netball, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and swimming. “Currently we have 1997 number of athletes and officials who will be accredited to take part
in these games, therefore on Thursday this week after the chef de mission has arrived, we will have a meeting whereby each country will submit relevant data of
participants, that is, the teams will clarify their numbers, ages, events and documentation in compliance with the rules and regulations of the games,” he
said. He noted that some of the key developments are that from November 1st, all people coming into the country will be expected to provide vaccination certificate.
Mutoya added that the teams will later be urged to ensure that all athletes and officials have vaccinated. He made a reminder that this will be compulsory following the
announcement from the Prime Minister. The obligation extends to the spectators. “Among these key developments, it is a requirement that every athlete and official who will participate in these
games will have to go through anti-doping e-learning course. There will also be a teams’ draw on Friday where teams will be paired and that will be the final fixture for the competitions schedules,” the Chairperson of ROC stated.
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