NATIONAL Athletics Association of Zimbabwe (NAAZ) president Tendayi Tagara says preparations for the upcoming inter-provincial track and field championships set for White City are progressing and they have hired a timetronics expert to make the event more competitive.
The championships are scheduled for this coming Saturday at White City Stadium in Bulawayo.
This event will also see NAAZ announcing its final team for the upcoming Africa Senior Championships to be held in Cameroon from June 21 to 26.
Tagara said they are expecting a highly competitive event and huge athletes turnouts as this platform will qualify some of them for the upcoming competitions.
“This will be a platform where we will announce our final squad for the Africa Senior Championship in Cameroon and some outstanding performers will be picked for the in competition together with other athletes based outside Zimbabwe,” Tagara said.
“We have hired the timetronics expert from South Africa to help in operation of our timing machine after buying a new camera in Belgium. The expert will start mounting the equipment from June 6 (today) to the 8th when the event takes place,” he said.
“For Cameroon however, we want to send mainly those who have either qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics or 99% close to qualifying for Paris as we are also chasing the remaining Olympic relay slots.”
Due to financial constraints, Tagara said the association will only cater for food and accommodation for the competing athletes and called athletes to source for sponsors who can cover their airfares.
“We are open to those who could afford their own air tickets from their own sponsors. Some juniors have secured sponsors for the tickets,” he said.
Tagara also thanked the association sponsor, Baldmin Holdings, for coming on board to ensure the event runs smoothly.