LEVY MWANAWASA STADIUM IT IS

…CAA approves Ndola as host city for U-18 U-20 Africa Athletics Championships

THE Confederations of African Athletics has approved the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola as the host venue for this month’s Under 18 and Under-20 CAA championships starting on April 28.

Minister of Sports Youth and Arts Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe, said the championships which were slated for Heroes Stadium and OYDC in Lusaka were moved to Ndola due to delays in the commencement of the renovations of the running tracks at the Heroes Stadium and the OYDC.

Chileshe said CAA approved Levy Mwanawasa Stadium as host venue for the championships which will feature 54 countries and over 1, 000 athletes after inspections of the facility that was conducted on April 6.

“I am delighted to inform you that CAA has since approved the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium as the competition venue for hosting of the games. However, the general conference and the elective congress will still be hosted here in Lusaka at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre to be specific. The general conference and the elective congress will be held from April 25 to 27 whilst the championships will be held from April 28 to May 3, 2023,” Chileshe said.

He said the government is committed to hosting the event that has attracted about 54 countries with over 1, 000 athletes and delegates.

“As a country, we are building for the future and the hosting of the championships gives us more impetus to change the direction in the way we view athletics in the country. We are encouraging institutions of learning at all levels to come up with programmes to develop the sport from the grassroot,” he said.

Chileshe appealed to the private sector to come on board and support the championships which are being held in Zambia for the first time.

He said the local organising committee has engaged several potential sponsors such as Zambia National Commercial Bank PLC who come on board in a big way to support the event.

“Our appeal is for more companies to come on board and to be part of the U-18 and U-20 success story. The next big name in athletics will emerge from Ndola and this is the time for everyone to join in as the young Zambian athletes will be making history,” Chileshe said.