Matsapha – “Greatness without integrity is hollow.”
These were the sentiments shared by the Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, Bongani Nzima (MP) when officially opening the ANOCA Zone VI Regional Workshop: OVEP Training of Trainers for Clean Sport on Monday at Esibayeni Lodge.
The first regional workshop in Eswatini focuses on Olympic Values Education (OVEP) and anti-doping initiatives, opens today and ends on Thursday.
Minister Nzima championed the philosophy of ‘Olympism’, calling sport “a school of life, a mirror of our values, and a bridge across nations”.
He urged delegates from across the region to leave the training and act as ambassadors of clean sport and Olympic values, carrying the lessons learned into their “schools, federations, and communities”. Nzima asserts that the essence of sport is not victory alone but virtue.
“It is the courage required to win with integrity and to lose with grace,” he said.
Nzima was unequivocal about Eswatini’s commitment to fighting doping, declaring that clean sport is “at the heart of this philosophy”. He issued a stern warning that when doping or manipulation enters the field, the spirit of fair play dies a silent death, making the collective duty to guard it with vigilance and conviction.
The minister emphasized that the government continues to align itself with international anti-doping standards and policies, ensuring Eswatini remains part of the global family that upholds transparency, fairness, and accountability in sport. He stressed that education, not just enforcement, is the key.
“We believe that education is not just a defence against doping – it is a seed planted in the heart of every athlete,” Nzima said.
The Integrating Values and Fostering Leadership workshop shows Eswatini’s growing commitment to ethics, education, and good governance in sport.
Praising the leadership of ANOCA Zone VI, Africa Zone VI RADO, and the Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) for hosting the initiative, Nzima noted that their shared belief is in that sport’s true power lies in the principles of “fairness, respect, and integrity.”
The ministry assured working with the EOCGA and the Eswatini Sports and Recreation Council (ESRC) to integrate Olympic Values Education into national youth programmes and school curricula. This initiative aims to produce young men and women who compete with honour, lead with humility, and live with purpose.
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