Sport - Zanzibar is determined to prepare competent students to take part in the London Olympic Games next year, the Director of the Secondary Schools in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Khadija Abdallah Mohamed, said.

"We are eager to have many students to represent Zanzibar in the upcoming Olympic games in London, and Paralympics in Singapore," the director said at the end of the first phase of the Sports bonanza programme to search and train talented students in three Zanzibar schools.

Khadija said at a bonanza gathering at SOS school grounds -- Mombasa, Zanzibar that her ministry was encouraging both female and male students, and young students with disabilities to show up their talents in games so that they could prepare for the international competition abroad.

Ms Edith James from the British Council said at the talent search bonanza which involved Regeza-Mwendo Secondary School, Langoni Secondary School, and SOS Herman Gmeiner Secondary School that the programme was a good beginning to have better sports men and women in future.

Edith said that the 'International Inspiration (II) programme' "is the direct response to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics big team's promise in Singapore to reach young people all around the world and connect them to the International power of the games so they are inspired to choose sport" and to see millions more young people across the world participating in sport and improving their lives as a result.

In Tanzania and Zanzibar the project is being coordinated by the British Council and delivered in Partnership with the Ministry responsible for Education, Children, Sports, and focus on 'Teachers and teaching interventions,' 'Sports leadership and Coaching,' 'Young People with disability Participation,' and 'Women and girls participation.'

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from July 27 to August 12, 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from August 29 to September 9. About 205 nations are expected to take part in 300 events at the 2012 edition, while 147 nations will take part in the Paralympic Games.

Daily News Reporter

Tanzania Daily News/03/10/2011