International Games News from Zimbabwe — Former Athens 2004 Torchbearer shot and killed in Harare July 14, 2004

Sad news from Harare, Zimbabwe as the Cape Argus newspaper of South Africa is reporting that one of the torch bearers who carried the Athens 2004 torch in Cape Town has been shot and killed.
Fundile "Rider" Baloyi, who was selected for his work in Harare, encouraging youth in the city to participate in sports such as running and football, was chosen by his community to carry the torch.
On Sunday, July 11th, two men came looking for another person at Baloyi's residence, described by the Cape Argus as a "shack" in Khayelitsha. Baloyi went looking for the other person, but was gunned down when he returned back home. Baloyi was 28 years old.

— 1995 African Games venues suffering from neglect February 16, 2004 The nation of Zimbabwe is suffering from numerous problems; staggering inflation, mass emigration, labor instability, race warfare and an autocratic leader. They've also removed themselves from the Commonwealth. In light of that, it comes as no surprise that the stadiums and venues built for the 1995 All-African Games are in disrepair, and are hardly being used.

— Zimbabwe may boycott, or be banned from Commonwealth Games
April 2002
Political strife within Zimbabwe is throwing its participation in the upcoming Commonwealth Games into question. The Council of the Commonwealth last month suspended Zimbabwe for one year over electoral irregularities and Robert Mugabe's controversial win. The European Union and the United States both imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe. Australia's prime minister, John Howard, is now mentioning the possibility of the Commonwealth suspension extending to the Commonwealth Games. Canada and New Zealand have been involved in the discussions, which led one Harare newspaper, the Herald, to label the proposals as racist, and coming from white dominated nations. Canadian representatives are not yet behind any ban from the games. The Herald also called for all of Zimbabwe to unite and as a counter measure to boycott the Commonwealth Games. Any verdict on the matter would need to be made by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The current suspension cover only Commonwealth council activities not sport.
— Governments Should Not Be Involved in Funding Sport
April 2002

An article in the Herald, (Harare, Zimbabwe) quotes veteran sports administrator Tommy Sithole of the NOC of Zimbabwe as stating that governments should not be involved in the funding of sport in any country. Instead, Sithole said, the government must create conditions that enable the flowing in of sponsorship for sport. He said corporate participation in sport would raise the profile of the games and make sports a multi-million dollar industry.

"I do not believe in expecting the government to pour money into sports. Some people might not agree with the view but I believe in the government creating the environment for those who can put money into sport to do so," said Sithole.