With 7 Athletes to Compete at Paris Olympics, Zimbabwe’s VP Leads 67-Man Delegation

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games prepare to kick off, Zimbabwe finds itself at the center of controversy over the size and composition of its delegation. With only seven athletes set to compete, the country has sent a staggering 67 officials to the Games, including Vice President Constantino Chiwenga.

Vice President Chiwenga has jetted into Paris to attend the opening ceremony scheduled for Friday. This marks a stark contrast to other nations, such as China, which has sent a formidable 338 athletes to the Olympics. Remarkably, China’s Sports Minister did not even make the trip, highlighting the disparity in delegation size and importance between the two countries.

Zimbabwe’s seven athletes will compete in athletics, rowing, and swimming. The representatives include sprinters Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu in the 200m dash, marathon runners Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora, swimmers Paige van der Westhuizen and Denilson Cyprianos, and rower Stephen Cox.

Ringisai Mapondera, Team Zimbabwe’s chef de mission, confirmed the team’s arrival and settling in Paris.

“At the moment in camp, we have Stephen Cox and Denilson. Denilson arrived today. We are expecting Paige later on today,” he said.

He also mentioned the presence of a physiotherapist and a swimming coach, adding that the full team would assemble within a few days.

While Zimbabwe’s athletes are gearing up for their events, the massive entourage accompanying them has raised eyebrows. Among the officials are various dignitaries, many of whom have little direct involvement with the athletes’ preparation or performance. The delegation’s size, compared to the small number of competitors, has sparked widespread criticism.

Former Olympian Abel Chimukoko praised the athletes’ potential, expressing optimism about their performance.

“The sprinters, Makarawu and Charamba, are stars. Isaac Mpofu is a top contender in the marathon,” Chimukoko said, emphasizing the need for support and investment in sports to achieve better results.

However, the disproportionate number of officials has overshadowed these positive notes. Critics argue that the resources spent on non-essential personnel could have been better utilized to support the athletes and improve their training conditions.

The Vice President’s presence in Paris is said to be part of a broader diplomatic mission, with business meetings lined up to further Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement efforts on the international stage. Yet, this has done little to quell the discontent at home.

As the Games progress, Zimbabweans will be watching closely, not only to support their athletes but also to scrutinize the delegation’s composition and its implications for the nation’s sports administration.

The official opening ceremony of the Games is scheduled for Friday, and the competition will run until August 11.

The Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) had selected Mapondera following a selection process approved by the ZOC Board last week.

In line with ZOC’s Athletes Development and Support Overall Goal, Mapondera will have to make sure “Team Zimbabwe has well supported and adequately prepared athletes who perform optimally at world level competitions by 2025”, apart from Chef de Mission responsibilities in Paris.

Mapondera is an experienced sports administrator who was the chair of Legal, Governance (Ethics & Integrity), Membership and Standards Compliance Commission at ZOC.

The ZOC was created in 1934 with the International Olympic Committee recognition coming in 1980.

Zimbabwe has won eight medals at the Summer Olympic games so far.

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games is scheduled to be held from July 26 to August 11