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PRESS RELEASE; CANA ZONE 4 INVITATIONAL GALA
Exciting, competitive swimming can be expected in
Lilongwe when
approximately 265 swimmers, 40 officials and spectators arrive in
Lilongweto participate in a major international swimming gala. The
gala, scheduled for 3-5 January 2008 will take place at the African
Bible College in Lilongwe and swimmers will compete a total of 130
events, including exciting relay events. Swimmers will compete in
freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and individual medley
events. Competitors come from 10 countries including Botswana, Kenya,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
This is the fifth time that this swimming gala takes place and it
is a
particular honour for Malawi and the Malawi Aquatic Union (MAU)
to host the event. In a further effort to strengthen the development
of swimming an international training camp is being held on the
1st and 2nd of January 2008 to build technical, psychological and
training skills and knowledge for swimmers and coaches. This camp
is being attended by an estimated 60 swimmers and coaches from 5
countries.
The Malawian team consists of 64 swimmers who are
assisted by 4 coaches and a team manager. Malawi is expected to
perform well in a number of events. Swimmers to watch out for include
Joyce Tafatatha from Blantyre, Sean Kayes and Yasmin Esterl from
Zomba and Natasja Duers and Daniella Costantini from Lilongwe. Swimmers
are largely drawn from Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba which currently
represent the swimming centres in Malawi. The team has been selected
to compete for the CANA Zone 4 Trophy which goes to the winning
country whilst accommodating younger, developing
swimmers and allowing them the opportunity to participate in a large
international event.
Whilst providing an impetus for highlighting swimming in Malawi the gala highlights a number of challenges facing the Malawi Aquatic Union. The MAU is working towards changing the perception that swimming is elitist and limited to a small group of swimmers only. A number of factors contribute to this perception. Currently, there are only a few adequate pools in Malawi which are largely privately owned and administered through schools. Swimming training and development occurs mainly through a club system with limited inputs through schools, which together with the cost of accessing private facilities contributes to the resultant high cost of swimming participation in Malawi. Additionally, many promising Malawian swimmers are lost when they reach secondary school level and choose other sports above swimming. These factors have contributed towards localizing swimming largely to Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba where the necessary facilities and coaching capacity exists.
The CANA Zone 4 Gala has allowed young and developing swimmers to participate in a large international event through the selection of a development team. The development team contains 19 swimmers which includes 6 young Malawian swimmers.
Additional steps for the longer term should include the expansion of access to swimming facilities and lowering the costs related to swimming participation. Critical to this process is the building of more competition level pools which allows access by the public. MAU needs to stimulate a collaborative process between MAU, swimming clubs and schools> to ensure that development programmes are put in place to identify swimmers with potential and nurture them to reach their full potential. It is largely through a collaborative process that swimming will continue to expand in Malawi.
Whilst final preparations are underway for the CANA Zone 4 Gala, it is necessary to note the contribution from sponsorships and donations from a number of local businesses, the National Sports Council and the Malawi Olympic Committee. These contributions have been critical to the successful hosting of the gala. The gala will boost the local economy with accommodation establishments, restaurants and other businesses benefiting from spending by participating teams.
RCH Thétard
Convenor, CANA Zone 4, Invitational Gala
09964109