Abstract:
The present study attempted to assess the challenges for the development of athletics sport event in
case of Jimma Zone Woredas Youth and Sport Affair Offices. The research was designed to be
conduct by cross sectional descriptive survey method. From 21 Woredas of Jimma Zone Youth and
Sports Affair Office which are 342 office workers and managers; only 14 Woredas by using simple
random sampling technique, which contains 63 individuals was purposively selected as the subject
of this study. Questionnaire, interview, and document analysis were used to collect the data then,
analyzed by frequency counting and percentages with both qualitative and quantitative methods.
The results indicate that altitude and environmental weather condition are not the major factors.
However the researcher investigated that an interest and attitude of sport experts towards athletics,
lack of skilled man power, the absence of role model, and the absence of athletics club and athletics
project are the major challenges for athletics sport event development in Jimma Zone. Based on the
findings the researcher recommended that sport experts and office managers should know as Jimma
Zone altitude and weather condition are appropriate for athletics sport events and it can be
developed in Jimma. The training area for athletics should be identified in all Woredas. Office
managers should search for and recruit skilled man in athletics and need to design and develop
mechanisms to support, supervise, and work with close relation to athletics professionals. Athletics
project should be established in each Woredas. The actions expected from sport experts to overcome
the challenges for athletics sport event development are having positive attitude towards athletics,
strong motivation and a willingness to work extremely hard. Office managers need to design ways to
facilitate, to present facilities and equipments, fund raising, to create awareness among youth and
to motivate all stake holders. Generally due attention and serious consideration should be given to
the challenges for the development of athletics sport event of Jimma Zone.
