The Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) on Saturday, 29 June joined National Olympic Committees worldwide in celebrating Olympic Day 2024. The event, held at Don Bosco in Lilongwe, was marked by sports activities such as basketball, Volleyball, Netball, Handball and Football. Before the games started there were aerobics and fun run. MOC Secretary General Henry Sakala said the event seeks to encourage athletes to excel in Olympic sports.
“We were supposed to celebrate on June 23 but was declared a mourning period following the death of Vice President Saulos Chilima and eight others in a plane crash. We organized various sporting events involving schools and communities in Lilongwe. As a member of the Olympic Movement, we have joined the whole world to celebrate. The theme is Faster, Stronger and Together. The event also helps us to raise awareness on the importance of taking up sports. As the world is preparing for the Paris Olympic Games, we want communities and youths to take part in sports activities to reduce crime and make their bodies strong and healthy. For athletes, we encourage them to train hard and make it a dream to realize an Olympic dream,” he said.
Kamuzu Barracks Primary School sports master Hastings Kaunda said the event was good.
“It’s been an exciting day for our learners. We brought basketball and Volleyball teams. The interaction has been great and it really has been a day of fun. We are happy to have been part of the celebration,” he said.
A resident of Area 23 in Lilongwe, Lorraine Banda, who took part in the activities described the event as fun.
“I enjoyed myself and I had fun by playing games and interacting with people who participated,” he said. – Reported by singayazi Kaminjolo