The government has called on sports organizers across Tanzania to ensure that children and athletes with special needs are fully included in sporting programmes, stressing that equal access to sports is essential for talent development, social inclusion, and national progress.
The appeal was made on April 18, 2026, by the Sports Officer at the National Sports Council of Tanzania (NSC), Adam Tunga, who represented the Executive Secretary, Neema Msitha, during the official opening of the East Africa Development Swimming Gala held at the FK Secondary School swimming pool in Dar es Salaam.
Tunga said the government strongly supports initiatives that nurture sporting talent from the grassroots level, noting that the swimming gala has set a new benchmark by involving children as young as four years up to 15 years old.
He said early exposure in sports plays a vital role in building future champions rather than relying on talent that emerges by chance at later stages.
He emphasized that structured youth development programmes are the foundation of competitive sports success, as they help instill discipline, confidence, and technical skills from an early age.
According to him, inclusive participation, including children with special needs, ensures that no potential talent is left behind.
“We want athletes to be developed from childhood. The government is ready to continue providing support, but stakeholders must also strengthen and sustain initiatives that open opportunities for all children,” said Tunga.
The Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA) Chairman, David Mwasyoge, said swimming has recorded significant growth over the past three years, with increasing participation from young athletes across the country.
He said the association’s focus is to expand grassroots engagement in order to build strong domestic competition before achieving international success.
Mwasyoge noted that the gala attracted more than 600 swimmers, reflecting the growing popularity and development of the sport.
He added that increased participation is essential for raising competitive standards and improving Tanzania’s performance in continental and global championships.
“By expanding participation among children, we are strengthening internal competition, which will eventually translate into better performance at African and world stages,” he said.
The Director of Prime Sports Agency, Lameck Borega, said the main objective of the event is to identify, nurture, and develop swimming talent from the grassroots level.
He revealed that 645 swimmers from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda took part, making it one of the largest swimming competitions in East Africa.
Borega said the strong regional participation reflects growing cooperation in sports development and highlights the increasing popularity of swimming among young athletes in the region.
He also noted strong parental involvement, with more than 1,000 parents attending the event, alongside 28 sponsors supporting the competition.
According to him, this level of engagement shows that swimming is steadily gaining recognition as a competitive sport in Tanzania.
He further dismissed the perception that swimming is only for children from wealthy families, saying the sport is open to all regardless of background.
He stressed that with proper access to training facilities and structured programmes, children from ordinary families can also excel and represent their countries at the highest level.
Organizers said the swimming gala will continue to be held several times a year to provide consistent opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, gain competition experience, and prepare for future national and international events.
The East Africa Development Swimming Gala has been described as an important platform for strengthening regional sports cooperation while promoting grassroots talent development.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that continued investment in inclusive and youth-focused sports programmes will further accelerate the growth of swimming and other sporting disciplines across Tanzania and the wider East African region.
