The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) on Friday announced that it will send a strong contingent of approximately 252 athletes to the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year.
As a multisports event, the Commonwealth Games rank second only to the Summer Olympics. All 71 Commonwealth countries are expected to participate from March 15 to 26 next year in the Games’ host city, Melbourne.
”Since its first participation in 1994, South Africa has built a proud tradition of participating in the Commonwealth Games, and was placed sixth on the medal table at the Manchester Games in 2002,” said Berrington Mkhize, second vice-president of Sascoc.
”It is our mission to, at the very least, have a repeat of this outstanding performance in 2006 and even to raise the bar this time round. To attain this, much will depend on the delivery we expect between now and then from our national federations in terms of athlete preparation.
”From our side, we are committed to giving the maximum support to the athletes of Team South Africa by appointing the best possible team coaching, managerial and medical staff to accompany them.”
Mkhize says South Africa will be participating in all the 12 individual sport codes listed on the Games programme. These are athletics, aquatics (swimming, diving and synchro), badminton, lawn bowls, boxing, cycling (road, track and mountain-biking), gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), shooting, squash, table tennis, triathlon and weightlifting.
South Africa also qualified for participation in the four team sports on the programme — basketball (men), hockey (men and women), netball and rugby sevens.
”A special characteristic of the Commonwealth Games is the full integration of certain events for elite athletes with disability, and we have reserved places in the team for those athletes who will merit selection to compete in the athletics, swimming, table-tennis and weightlifting events,” says Mkhize.
”The manner in which the selection criteria have been applied will ensure that Team South Africa consists of a core of excellent medal contenders as well as providing a much-needed opportunity to invest in some young and upcoming athletes who are showing real and proven potential as the stars of the future.”
He says that in finalising the Team South Africa numbers, Sascoc has attained the transformation goal the organisation set to showcase South African sport at world events.
”These goals include inclusivity, gender balance, representivity, creating equal opportunities for elite able-bodied and disabled athletes, as well as for the seasoned and the developing corps of athletes,” he says.
”I have little doubt that Melbourne 2006 will yield a return on investment that will do the team, Sascoc, its member national federations and South Africa proud.” — Sapa