The National Sports Council (NSC) has called on sports stakeholders to uphold the principles of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere by investing in young people, promoting equal opportunities and strengthening grassroots sports development.
The call was made during the opening of the Development Swimming Gala at the Shaban Robert Swimming Pool in Upanga, Dar es Salaam, on October 10, 2026.
The competition, organised by Champion Rise in collaboration with the Tanzania Swimming Association (TSA), brought together young swimmers from Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, NSC Sports Officer Charles Maguzu stressed the need for sustainable systems to identify, nurture and develop young swimming talent, enabling children to progress to higher levels of competition.
“Doors are open, and the NSC will collaborate with stakeholders to ensure these talents are nurtured and developed,” Maguzu said.
He commended the organisers and participants, noting that grassroots competitions play an important role in identifying promising athletes and giving them opportunities to improve their skills.
Maguzu urged coaches, parents, sports associations and other stakeholders to work together to ensure that children with swimming potential receive the guidance and support they need to advance their abilities.
TSA Chairperson David Mwasyoge said increasing the number of swimmers participating in competitions was essential to improving the country's performance and creating a broader pool of talented athletes.
“We cannot improve the quality of swimming if we have only a few swimmers competing against one another. We are pleased to see more development competitions being organised in the country,” Mwasyoge said.
He praised Champion Rise and the sponsors for supporting the event, while recognising the contribution of the Government, swimming clubs and parents in helping children access training and competitive opportunities.
Mwasyoge said expanding grassroots competitions would strengthen the sport's foundation by giving more children opportunities to participate, gain experience and demonstrate their abilities.
Champion Rise Director Amina Mfaume said the times recorded during the gala would help assess participants' progress and determine their readiness for future TSA competitions.
She expressed hope that many swimmers would achieve the qualifying times needed to compete in upcoming events.
Mfaume added that the competition was also intended to open doors for children from schools and communities without established swimming clubs, allowing them to showcase their abilities alongside swimmers from established clubs.
“This competition gives children from clubs and schools that do not have swimming clubs an opportunity to participate,” she said.
The initiative is expected to broaden access to swimming, encourage wider participation among children and help identify talent that could otherwise remain undiscovered.
Meanwhile, UTT AMIS Marketing Officer Gosbat Rutasikala said the institution's sponsorship also aimed to raise awareness of the Watoto Fund, which enables parents to save and invest towards meeting their children's future needs.
Rutasikala said UTT AMIS, an investment institution under the Ministry of Finance, encouraged parents to start planning for their children's financial future from an early age.
He added that supporting the swimming gala was part of the institution's contribution to development initiatives.
The competition underscores the importance of investing in young people and expanding access to sports as part of building a stronger sporting future for Tanzania.
Through collaboration among the Government, sports associations, schools, clubs, parents and private-sector partners, more children can gain opportunities to develop their talents, improve their performance and compete at higher levels.