Although its athletes did poorly for a host country, Mozambique can be content that its organisation of the first under- 20 Zone Six SADC Games met with some relative successes.

Mozambican athletes stood fourth in the overall standings out of 10 SADC countries that took part in the games held between 24 April and 2 May in the capital, Maputo. About 1,100 youths from the region vied with each other in defence of their national colours.

However, according to the organisers, unlike other major sporting events where finishing first is the main goal, the SADC games were intended to foster regional unity – certainly the significance that Mozambique happens to currently hold the chair at the African Union was not lost.

Thus it was fitting that although a regional event, the games had to be opened in a beautiful ceremony by Mozambique’s President and current chairperson of the African Union, Joaquim Chissano, who was flanked by such dignitaries as the country’s former first lady, Graça Machel, SADC Executive Secretary Prega Ramsamy, and various regional sports ministers.

Apart from a few snags at the beginning, when the games got rolling things were gradually smoothed out. One issue that had been of concern was security, but no one athlete or delegation made any complaints, and the protocol seemed to be synchronised as well in order to assist the participant member states.

This was also a credit to the athletes and delegations themselves who behaved admirably.

Since the participants were youth falling within the age bracket most vulnerable to HIV and AIDS, organisers made sure they allocated some time in the busy sporting schedule for the teenagers to discuss and exchange views. Giving the “kick out” was Graça Machel who called on them to be more active in the struggle against the pandemic.

To show that the games were inclusive, organisers made sure that the competing member countries brought with them disabled athletes who added a special dimension to the event.

Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe were represented. The major competitions included athletics, football, netball, boxing and basketball.

Perhaps by virtue of its neighbourly status and its vintage capacity to o rganise big events, South Africa helped to ease the burden when sometimes it seemed just too heavy for one country.

On the closing day a sudden downpour that lasted about half an hour tried to dampen the spirits of the athletes, but this was to end well. After some consultations between

Mozambique’s sports minister, Joel Libombo, and the heads of delegations, it was decided the venue be shifted from a marina which afforded a sea view to a closed one where the final ceremony led by Prime Minister Luisa Diogo took place. Mozambique has been applauded in the region for showing courage in organising the event after other countries turned down the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), the official arm responsible for implementing all SADC sport activities in accordance with the body’s Protocol on Culture, Information and Sport.

It is hoped that the Mozambican experience will be followed by Namibia which will host the games in 2006. Absent from the regional event were Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Seychelles.