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The Sport and Recreation Commission board, management and staff wishes to extend hearty congratulations to our rowers Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin who recently qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games which are set to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil next year.

Their qualification to the Olympic Games is a testimony that Zimbabwe is a force to reckon with in rowing.

While it is pleasing to note that so far Zimbabwe has four athletes, Kirsty Coventry, Wirimai Zhuwawo, Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin who have qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games, there is need to prioritise supporting the preparatory activities which include training and participation in prior competitions which will sharpen their skills ahead of the Olympics.

It is in this light that we kindly request our Government and other stakeholders to consider supporting the athletes at this critical moment, for it is only those athletes and teams which are supported technically and logistically prior to the competitions which are likely to do well than those teams which are not supported.

Our potential to conquer the world is huge, but this can only be transformed into a reality if we appreciate that nothing beats preparation.

Once again we would like to express our profound gratitude and appreciation to Micheen Thornycroft and Peter Purcell-Gilpin for raising our flag high during the qualifiers and registering our name on the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. — Sports Commission.