Tanzania para swimming body secures Virtus membership
Tanzanian para-swimmer Iman Balqees Djedovic competes in a past event. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
- The affiliation with VIRTUS is a significant step for them and will enhance swimming in Tanzania, providing opportunities for athletes to compete locally and internationally.
Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Para Swimming Association (TPSA) has obtained a temporary membership with the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairments (VIRTUS).
VIRTUS is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).
It oversees the registration process for athletes wishing to compete in VIRTUS events and supervises competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities, including participation in the Paralympic Games.
The organization is dedicated to governing, advocating, organising, and promoting elite sports for athletes with intellectual impairments.
Speaking yesterday, TPSA Secretary General Ramadhan Namkoveka said the affiliation with VIRTUS is a significant step for them and will enhance swimming in Tanzania, providing opportunities for athletes to compete locally and internationally.
Namkoveka noted that TPSA focuses on swimming for athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual disabilities.
“In addition to joining VIRTUS, TPSA has appointed two national coaches, Julius Maganga and Innocent Jonas, to support training programmes for athletes with intellectual disabilities,” said Namkoveka.
He added that the coaches, along with eight others, will prepare athletes at various pools in Dar es Salaam to improve their performance levels.
The national team includes athletes such as Rebecca Kalengo, Daniel Junior Msangi from PIGEC Swim Club, Humayl-Mohammed Gangji, Mohamed Mohamed, and Iago Nzoshe from Al Muntazir Islamic School, Ivan Shayo from St. Joseph School, and Luis Siangicha from Chadron’s Hope Foundations.
Namkoveka explained that TPSA is now preparing for the second National Championships to discover talents among athletes with physical, visual, and intellectual impairments, including cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome.
He said their body is now in the early stages of organising the championships to be held at Dar es Salaam Gymkhana swimming pool on October 12.
“Our goal is to train and enable more swimmers to compete at both national and international levels, preparing them to compete in events under VIRTUS,” he said.
