Japan pledge support

ZIMBABWE and Japan have reached an agreement to assist each other in sports development ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The two nations have agreed to help each other in developing disciplines like judo and karate.

Two tournaments are are set to be held on March 10 and 17.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Recreation Kazembe Kazembe said the agreement will assist Zimbabwe to refurbish infrastructure, acquire technical assistance and learn from the Japanese who are more experienced.

“We want to promote judo and karate in the grassroots, we also need the Japanese technical and scientific training in all sport disciplines.

“In terms of sport, Japan are quite ahead of Zimbabwe and this co-operation will give us an opportunity and room to try to learn from them”, said Kazembe.

The Sports Minister was speaking after meeting the Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Toshiyuki Iwado in Harare yesterday.

“Japan, as a nation which mostly concentrates in judo and karate, we have decided to initiate official tourneys in these sport disciplines,’’ said Iwado.

“We have two judo tourneys coming on 10 and 17 March while the venues will announced later.

‘’These tournaments are to enhance the strengthening and resuscitation of Zimbabwe Judo so as to try and have some athletes participating in Japan 2020 Olympic Games.’’

Kazembe has been having a busy schedule with a number of meeting with key foreign officials with an emphasis to try and see the development of sport, especially in the grassroots, go a notch higher in the country.

He is passionate about laying a long-term foundation for sport and believes that can only be achieved if the country invest in its grassroots structures.