Government has paid K4.2 million Kwacha to the Zambia Senior Women football team which recently qualified to the 2024 Olympic games that will take place from 26th July to 11th August,2024 in Paris, France.
Government has also paid a total of K2.9 million to the Zambian athletes who represented the country during the 2023 Africa games that took place from 8th to 23rd March, 2024 in Accra Ghana.
Speaking when he addressed the media, Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu MP said Government has set aside a K30 million for community sports to be disbursed as grants through the 116 local authorities across the country adding that K10 million out of that amount has already been given out.
Nkandu said to promote sports development in the country, Government is working on the construction of ultramodern sports infrastructure that will increase community participation in physical activities and sports.
He added that Government considers all sports disciplines as equal and that over 40 sports codes have been supported financially through his ministry to participate in international sports competitions.
Nkandu congratulated the Zambian athletes who took part in the 2023 Africa games for their exceptional performance by bringing 15 medals to the country.
The minister also congratulated the Copper Queens for lifting the Zambian flag high by qualifying to the 2024 Olympic games.
The minister who reiterated Government’s support to sport as a contributor to national development, expressed happiness at the steady improvement in the health of former Chipolopolo team captain Rainford Kalaba who is currently admitted to the University Teaching Hospital – UTH after being involved in a car accident and wished him a quick recovery.
Zambia will on 25th May,2024 host the 2023 Regional Annual Sports Awards which will see the participation of 10 countries.