OLYMPAFRICA TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO HIGH-PERFORMANCE CENTRE

MBABANE – Athletes in Eswatini stand to gain immensely if the Olympafrica Centre undergoes conversion into a high-performance facility.

Traditionally, local athletes have had to travel to the Pretoria High-Performance Centre to prepare for the Olympics and other major international competitions. High-performance centres provide significant advantages, as they feature specialised facilities and expert guidance to enhance athletic performance through a comprehensive approach that includes physical training, nutrition, psychology and recovery strategies.

Such environments equip athletes with advanced equipment, customised training programmes and professional coaching—critical components for optimising performance and minimising injury risks. They also foster a collaborative atmosphere, enabling athletes to learn from one another and challenge themselves within a competitive yet supportive framework.

These centres are characterised by cutting-edge training facilities, including specialised gyms, athletic tracks, swimming pools and sport-specific areas tailored for various disciplines. Athletes benefit greatly from the expertise of sports scientists, physiotherapists and nutritionists who provide personalised guidance, while essential recovery amenities such as hydrotherapy pools, massage rooms and cryotherapy chambers aid in injury prevention and recovery.

Additionally, the integration of performance analysis tools facilitates meticulous monitoring and analysis, empowering athletes and coaches to make informed, data-driven decisions regarding their training regimens.
The financial commitment to construct a high-performance centre can vary significantly based on factors such as location, size, and specific features, typically ranging from E20 to E100 million or more depending on complexity and technology. Key influencing factors include land acquisition, construction materials, equipment procurement and the recruitment of specialised personnel.

Maxwell Jele, Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA), outlined a structured plan for the gradual transformation of Olympafrica into a high-performance facility.“This process is already underway, with building upgrades initiated last year. Strategically located between Mbabane and Manzini, the centre currently supports eight sporting codes,” he advised. He highlighted that the enhancement aligns with EOCGA’s High-Performance Sports Strategy, soon to be unveiled, which recognises the country’s pressing need for such a facility.

Jele noted that improvements will encompass constructing lodging facilities and equipping the centre with sports science equipment, alongside the recruitment of highly qualified personnel, including elite coaches and specialists.
“We are presently in the conceptualisation phase, anticipating progression to design development and stakeholder identification. I am confident this vision will materialise in the medium term, aligned with our objectives for an Olympic podium finish by 2036.” Olympafrica to be transformed into high-performance centre

He acknowledged the continued placement of top athletes at international high-performance centres, with plans to connect 2-3 elite athletes to facilities in Europe in preparation for the LA 2028 Games, underscoring the superior standards of coaching and competition available abroad.

To solidify these efforts, EOCGA is embarking on a comprehensive exercise to develop a high performance strategy, a key deliverable within its strategic plan for 2022-2025. Professional consultant Yoliswa Lumka, from South Africa facilitated this initiative, having arrived in Eswatini recently to commence initial stakeholder engagements.

She interacted with EOCGA staff, the Board, the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC), the Ministry of Sports and National Sports Federations, as well as assessed various sporting facilities along the Mbabane-Manzini corridor, including Mavuso Trade Centre, UNESWA, Olympafrica, Mbabane Club, Coronation Park and Waterford Kamhlaba.

This initiative falls under the purview of the High Performance and International Games Commission, a branch of the EOCGA Board, and is financially supported by Olympic Solidarity to the tune of E140 000. The aim is to have the final strategy document ready within three months, following a week-long initial visit by Lumka, along with a subsequent visit before finalising the document.

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