Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor

ZIMBABWE joined the world in commemorating International Day for Sport Development and Peace this Friday, with the event being fronted by the Sport Leaders Institute of Zimbabwe.

The United Nations adopted the day to celebrate the positive influence that sport has on the advancement of human rights as well as social and economic development.

For the first time, Zimbabwe joined the world in commemorating this day through a cycling display at an event that was organised by the Sports Leaders Institute, Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development alongside Liike, a sport and development institute from Finland.

“Sport plays a pivotal role in human development and fostering peace and it’s good that as a country we have joined hands with the world and we will grow from strength to strength from here going forward,” said Sports Leaders Institute Zimbabwe president, Russell Mhiribidi.

Professional and recreational cyclists came in numbers to spice up the celebrations, with Cycling Zimbabwe vice president Arlene Mitchelle speaking pn the positives of cycling and prospects for the sport in Zimbabwe.

“Cycling is good for health and can also be a means of transport and as Cycling Zimbabwe we also want to take this opportunity to revive the sport that we used to dominate in the region,” she noted.

Globally sport is used to bring people together and, in some instances, it has been used to avert conflicts.