DEPUTY Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Anastazia Wambura has called for more support to sports from private and public firms, so as to ensure its sustainable development.

She gave the call yesterday, when handing over the national flag to the national swimming team which is set to jet off today for Canada to represent the country in the 13th edition of FINA World Swimming Championship (25metres) to be held in Windsor, Ontario.

The team which comprises six swimmers has been supported by an Italian firm, Errea, based in Parma, Italy. The company which produces various sports apparels donated track suits and training shoes.

The support has been commended by the Deputy Minister, who requested the Italian firm to come and invest in the country, saying it will be a vital move to sports development in the country.

“Sports attires are very expensive and we import them from abroad so having a firm in the country which can invest in producing them here will be vital move in sports development in the country as they won’t be expensive anymore,” she said.

She urged the Italian firm and others in and outside the country to invest in sports by producing sports gears as well as supporting sports by building of infrastructures such as swimming pools, football arenas and basketball courts.

On his side, the Italian Ambassador to Tanzania Roberto Mengoni said the support from Errea was part of the effort of the embassy to attract Italian investors to the country. He wished best of luck to the team in Canada.

The Deputy Minister also commended the support from local firms Acacia Mining Tanzania and Akiba Commercial Bank (ACB), who have facilitated the team’s transport to Canada.

On the other hand, Wambura adviced the swimmers who will represent the country in the World championship to ensure they fly high the national flag and come back with medals as they did in the recent CANA III championship in Rwanda.

“I believe you are going to perform well... we are full of hopes that you are going to battle it hard to ensure our country wins medals,” she said.
The national swimming team which is heading to the World Swimming Championship in Canada comprises Adil Bharmal, Hilal Hilal (captain), Denis Mhini, Joseph Sumari, Sonia Tumiotto and Catherine Mason.

The Windsor Swimming championship is expected to attract up to 1,000 of the world’s best swimmers from over 176 countries as they compete for World Championship glory and expected to draw more than 35,000 spectators.

This elite competition which commence on December 6 and climax on December 11 will bring the world’s best swimmers together to compete for 46 gold medals over six days in a temporary world championship pool constructed within the WFCU Arena.