NOCZ TRAINS SPOCS

The National Olympic Committee of Zambia (NOCZ) continues to promote the Safe Sport agenda as eight National Federation representatives complete training as Safe Sport Single Point Of Contact (SPOC) for their respective NF.

Trainees had to go through sessions that included an understanding of what Safe Sport is, followed by the Types of Safeguarding Risks, Corruption, and Match-Fixing In Sport, and concluded with a session on reading the signs & reporting Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse (SHEA) on Day 1 of the training.

Day 2 was focused on the measures to prevent SHEA in Sport, a learning excursion to the National Sports Development Centre (NASDEC) and nearby sports centres including a feedback session about the excursion, fundamentals of Safe Sport Events. To conclude Day 2, Ndola Nutrition Organisation Executive Director Halumba Munachonga joined the training virtually as a guest facilitator to lead a session on policy development.

A session on action track planning & presentation on Day 3 was the last and final session on the SPOC’s training programme.

Speaking while giving his closing remarks, NOCZ Secretary-General Boniface Kambikambi called on SPOC’s to drive the Safe Sport agenda in their federations.

“Don’t leave what you’ve learnt here, go and do more research so that you can find out how best to sale the Safe Sport concept within your federations,” he said.

Mr Kambikambi further said that, from an international perspective, Safe Sport is an area that has become very visible especially towards multi-sports events encompassing a lot of things including manipulation of competition.

“I hope that you go ahead and indicate KPI’s of which NOCZ through the Commission and Safe Sport Desk Officer can help deliver and be adopted in the federation’s strategic plans.”

The Secretary-General revealed that NOCZ’s target is for all the 28 Sports Federations to have trained and certified SPOC’s as the Committee continues to promote the Safe Sport agenda.

On the other hand, NOCZ Safe Sport Commission Chairperson Gloria Mubita who is also National Coordinator Victim Support Unit (VSU) at the Zambia Police Service said that VSU takes a keen interest in the Zambian Sports environment, and she was happy to be invited to witness the proceedings of the training programme.

“This is encouraging for me as the Chairperson of the Commission and I’m proud to note that NOCZ and other stakeholders are working towards creating a safe environment in sport,” she added.

Safe Sport Commission Chairperson Gloria Mubita addressing the SPOCS

Meanwhile, Zambia Athletics representative Maureen Kolomwe speaking on behalf of the SPOC’s thanked NOCZ It’s partners for organizing the training.

“The training has helped us understand a lot of things that we’ve been giving a blind eye to, the facilitators have been so wonderful in helping us realise the importance of Safe Sport in our organisations,” she said.

She further challenged her fellow SPOC’s to work hard in promoting and improving Safe Sport in their various sports federations.

“We would be happy if we continuously have such meetings so that we help ourselves understand more on how we can help Athletes out there,” she added.

NOCZ Safe Sport Officer Prudence Nswana with support from IOC Believe In Sport Ambassador Abishai Nchimunya Mweetwa facilitated the 3-day training held from 2nd to 4th November 2021 in Lusaka.

The following have been trained and certified as SPOCS:

Maureen Kolomwe - Zambia Athletics, Carol Chipupu - Zambia Judo Association, Gravies Mwanza and Mercy Njobvu -Zambia Tennis Association, Wisdom Kaunda - Zambia Table Tennis Association, Kenny Matishi - Zambia Baseball & Softball Association, Eneless Mambwe - Zambia Hockey Association and Memory Suliya - Handball Association of Zambia.

YES! TO CLEAN SPORT.

From Left to Right: NOCZ Secretary General Boniface Kambikambi, Mercy Njobvu from Zambia Tennis Association and Safe Sport Commission Chairperson Gloria mubita