The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Representative in Zambia, Ms Joyce Mend-Cole, has called on the Zambian contingent to the 2012 London Olympics to emulate the Zambia National Soccer Team, by putting in their best and reap medals.
The UNHCR Representative said this in Lusaka today during the hand-over of assorted sports kit donated by the International Olympic Committee and Samsung to UNHCR for the benefit of the refugees in Zambia, a country with a rich history of hosting refugees.
“I wish to thank the IOC for the long partnership with UNHCR. This donation is timely as it comes at the time the olympic games are starting in London. Its our hope as UNHCR that the Zambian team at the olympics will come back with medals, and perform just like the Chipolopolo spirit,” she said.
Ms Mends-Cole thanked the IOC for the donation and particularly thinking about refugees as very few people and organisations think about them, especially when it comes to sports activities.
In thanking the IOC, the UNHCR Representative underlined the important role sport plays in the lives of individuals throughout the world, to promote health, enhance social cohesion and general recreation.
“As UNHCR, we are aware of the popularity of sport and the prominent role it has attained in our world as the dominant tool for recreation, social cohesion and health improvement, with various sports disciplines followed closely all over the world with fervent fever. Sport can be a unifying force and a tool for social change in our world in general and the refugee community in particular. So I believe the games which will follow in the two refugee settlement as a result of this donation, will help in bringing the refugees together,” Representative said.
The donated kit includes foot, volley, net and basket balls, netball nets, polo shirts, plastic whistles, chalk for marking, corner flags and many more are worth US$41, 000.
Apart from playing the actual games, the IOC donation will help galvanise the refugee community in the settlements of Meheba and Mayukwayukwa to undertake community events, such as youth football and educational activities on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention.
Representing the IOC, Mr. Clement Chileshe, the Olympic Youth Development Centre Zambia Centre Director, said the donation of the sports kit was within the context of the Olympic spirit of celebrating humanity by targeting the less privileged in society like the refugees.
“We believe sport liberates no matter the status of someone in society. With this sports kit, we hope that one day we could have an Olympic champion among refugees,” said Mr. Chileshe.
Mr. Chileshe further underlined the need for his organisation and UNHCR to co-operate and come up with various sports programmes that will benefit refugees in Zambia.
“As IOC, we are proud to associate with UNHCR and the refugees,” said Mr. Chileshe.
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