A fairly new sporting discipline called sitting volleyball, which was recently launched in Mutare, is being introduced in most parts of the country.

Sitting volleyball is a sport that also incorporates the differently-abled populace.

The introduction and promotion of participation in sitting volleyball is the brainchild of Zimbabwe National Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability.

The sport, which can also be referred to as Para-Volley, is a variant of common volleyball.

The difference is that one plays volleyball while seated on the ground, the court is a bit small and the net is lowered to approximately one meter as compared to common volleyball.

“The ideal of sitting volleyball is to include more players with or without impairments into the sport. Through sitting volleyball, we want to cater for high performance in sports for persons with intellectual disability,” said Nyaundi.

The launch was done at Chancellor junior primary school on Monday where coaches, technical officials and administrators gathered to be trained so that they could impart the techniques across schools and tertiary institutions.

Torbjon Sollie trainers (from Norway) who is with the Zimbabwe National Paralympic Committee, moving the country training sitting volleyball or Para-Volley, said the sport has been played in the Word Paralympic Games.

“Sitting volleyball is a sport that creates a lot of fun. It has been played in the Word Paralympic Games. It has never been played in Zimbabwe before that is why we are here to share with people about it.

“We have been visiting schools in most parts of Zimbabwe and after today we will be in Masvingo. Sitting volleyball is also meant for the intellectual disabled,” said Sollie.

The Manicaland Volleyball Association chairperson Farai Mboto expressed excitement about the launch.

He said that the launch is historical as it shows the importance of the differentially-abled population in society

“Manicaland Volleyball Association is pleased to have such a historical launch which is in line with our vision to build a framework of sport development. The launch of sitting volleyball in our province shows that the differentially able people are equally important to us as an association. We will make sure that sitting volleyball will become a success,” said Mboto.

Mboto thanked the National Paralympic Committee together with ZINSAID for coming to share the knowledge about sitting volleyball in the province.

“I would like to thank the participants who came to acquire these skills and knowledge of sitting volleyball and remember to use it to develop those who will be playing the game,” he said.