Minister of Sport, Youth and Child Development in Zambia, Kenneth Chipungu has paid tribute to Sport In Action (SIA) for being proactive in motivating individuals and organisations that contribute to sport for development at the grassroot level.
Chipungu said SIA, through the sport for development awards has stimulated more people to join hands in the crusade to increase and broaden participation in Zambian sport. The minister was speaking during the 3RD Sport for development awards ceremony held at Intercontinental Hotel on Friday the 26th of November 2010 in Lusaka the capital city of Zambia. He said the sport for development awards have become historic in that they provide a platform to recognize the efforts of individuals and organisations with outstanding contribution to the grassroots community sport that promote social change.
"This is the third year running and the sport for development awards ceremony is held to recognize those who work hard at the grassroot level. This platform is used to recognize the corporate entries, government ministries, individuals and the media for their contribution towards sport for development" Chipungu said. He emphasized that it is important that people who contribute to sport for development are recognized and rewarded because they sacfrice a lot of time and resources in implementing sport for development programs.
Chipungu urgued SIA to continue with the initiative of recognizing people that are contributing to sport to development and bringing about social change in society. He said the Government through his Ministry is committed to the development for development especially at the grassroot level. He said sport has been an important tool in fighting vices and young people. As you may be aware ladies and gentlemen in May 2005, my government re-introduced Physical Education (PE) as a compulsory subject in all schools. “ I am proud to say that for the first time in the history of Zambia. PE is being examined in schools Chipungu said.
SIA president Clement Chileshe said it has been a life changing experience to discover and realize the invaluable hard work some people put in developing sport on the grass root level. Chileshe said it is the third year the awards are running since its introduction in 2008 and thanked the partners that have been working SIA is hosting the awards ceremony. He said sport plays a major role in bringing social change in commuinities.
“A special thank you to those that have partnered with us for the third year running and hope we can together build an even bigger family of change makers through celebration of efforts” he said.