• ATHLETE Mercy Kalunga receives a gift from First Lady Christine Kaseba during the launch of the IAAF -ZAAA Kids athletic programme at Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka yesterday. Picture by THOMAS NSAMA.

By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –
FIRST Lady Christine Kaseba yesterday officially launched the Kids Athletics Zambia Programme with a strong call on the Ministry of Sports to increase funding to athletics.

Dr Kaseba added colour to the launch of the International Association of Athletics Association (IAAF) funded programme held at the Olympics Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in Lusaka by taking part in some events among them, a sprint race and overcoming hurdles.

 She said that athletics was an important sport that does not just offer a livelihood to thousands of youths but also provides a good health style.

 Dr Kaseba said that the Kids Athletics Programme for which she is the Zambia Champion was an important undertaking that would be spread across the country and then help the country produce world champions and Olympics medallists.

 She said Kids Athletics had started that process but that there was still a lot that needed to be done adding that while the programme had laid the foundation for great results to come to Zambia, there was need for the country to invest in infrastructure.

“I am, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of Sports to revisit the sports framework and increase budgetary allocation to sport especially athletics. Government ought to fund athletics as they do other sports like soccer.

 As Government strives to create more jobs, a vibrant sports industry can generate employment, help generate infrastructure and attract the much needed foreign funds which in turn contribute to economic growth,” she said.

 Her statement was accompanied by applause from the crowd and officials including Isaiah Kiplagat, the IAAF Council Member who was representing the IAAF president Lamin Diack.