The Greek government has extended a special invitation to former South African president Nelson Mandela to officiate at an Olympic Truce event that they are to host on Wednesday at the Athens Concert Hall.
A contingent of South African Olympians and administrators will accompany Mandela to the event. Joining him in Athens will be marathon gold medallist Josia Thugwane, silver medallists Elana Meyer and Terence Parkin, as well as Hezekial Sepeng, Marianne Kriel and Brett Peterson.
National Olympic Committee of SA (Nocsa) president Sam Ramsamy and CEO Lyndon Barends will also accompany Mandela.
According to Ramsamy, middle distance runner Hendrick Mokganyetsi and hurdler Llewellyn Herbert were also invited but have requested to be excused from the trip due to their Commonwealth Games training and preparations.
Mandela is the Patron of the Olympic Truce which refers back to ancient times. One month before the ancient Olympic Games, the Hellenistic world would declare that before and during the Games, there would be no strife or war in the world.
This tradition has survived in the modern Olympic movement and is approved and endorsed by the United Nations.
The party leave on Sunday evening from Johannesburg International airport and will return next Friday morning. – Sapa