‘CGF meeting to benefit Malawi’
By Twimepoki Mangani:
Malawi stands to benefit from a recent Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) African Regional meeting which took place in Livingstone, Zambia.
The meeting took place ahead of the Commonwealth Youth Games scheduled for August in Trinidad and Tobago and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia.
Malawi Olympic Committee (MOC) President Jappie Mhango attended the meeting alongside secretary general John Kaputa and director Naomi Chinatu.
Kaputa said discussions at the meeting were useful for member countries within the region.
“The deliberations will help us in preparing for the Games as they covered moderation of game villages as well as other updates. We were briefed that submission of athletes’ sports entries by number and name will start on April 28.
“The 2026 Commonwealth Games will have five different game villages which will accommodate athletes. There will be 20 sport codes including three new ones and nine Para Olympic Games,” he said.
Kaputa said CGF will have an elective general assembly in November, when each member country will send a representative.
CGF President Dame Louise Martin hailed the attendants’ energy and enthusiasm at the workshop.
Martin singled out the importance of discussions on both regional topics and the broader approach for Commonwealth Games in light of upcoming tournaments.
The meetings, which hosted senior members of the CGF’s management team and representatives of 19 Commonwealth Games associations across Africa, were hugely important for the CGF both to share the vision for the future and to gain further understanding of how they can support colleagues in their development plans.
The workshop highlighted the forthcoming strategic plan, which will be launched later in the year, offered updates on developments as well as reviews on regional plans as delegates shared best practices.
Ahead of the Youth Games, Malawian runners are camping in preparation for a competition in Ndola, Zambia, scheduled for April 27.—Mana
