South Africa’s Paralympics management team expressed disappointment on Wednesday at criticism from Oscar Pistorius, saying he should have spoken to them first.
”When it comes to Mr Pistorius, in particular, we have always supported him 100% throughout his career, and most notably during his quest to qualify for the Olympic Games,” the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) said in a statement.
Pistorius has been quoted as criticising the poor organisation; ugly clothes for the opening ceremony; athletes having to fly to Beijing in economy class while officials sat in business class; and over the team kit not being ready in time.
”With regards to the complaints raised by Mr Pistorius, it is of grave concern to Sascoc and team management that he did not address his concerns with us.
”We have an open relationship with all of our athletes, and this is reflected in the success our Paralympic athletes have enjoyed in the past.”
Sascoc said the original team kit had been ready on August 14, but that the athletics team did not like it.
”Sascoc duly noted this and immediately commissioned a new kit for the athletes, which the suppliers were unable to manufacture before the team’s departure for Beijing. The new competition kit will arrive in Beijing this Thursday in time for the Paralympics.”
Turning to Pistorius’s criticism of the ”ugly” dress code at the opening ceremony, Sascoc said: ”Personal taste obviously dictates what an athlete finds acceptable to wear or not. However, Sascoc has again noted the concerns of certain athletes regarding the dress code.
”As such, the South African team will vote on the matter in Beijing … giving athletes the opportunity to decide whether they would like to wear the official team dress or the attire designed for formal functions.”
Pistorius also complained that team members had to walk 2km to buy drinks because their vending machine cards had not been activated.
”The matter of the drinks token, which is part of the welcome bag that South African athletes and all other national Paralympic teams receive, is the responsibility of the [Beijing organisers] and therefore entirely out of Sascoc’s control.
”This matter was rectified late yesterday [Tuesday],” said Sascoc.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Alliance said the concerns raised by Pistorius could affect the athletes’ performance negatively. It said Sascoc must be summoned before Parliament’s sports committee to explain their case.
”The country’s hopes for the Paralympics team to win more medals than the Olympics team are threatened by Sascoc’s poor planning and fat-cat mentality.
”No athlete can make a serious contest for medals at the highest level when unnecessary challenges of this kind are thrown their way,” said DA spokesperson Donald Lee.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) also questioned the conduct of the sports authorities.
”It is quite simply mind-boggling that our disabled athletes were squeezed into economy class airline seats on the long haul to China while officials stretched out in business class,” said IFP spokesperson Suzanne Vos.
She also criticised the uniform South Africa’s Olympic team wore at the opening ceremony last month, saying it was voted fourth-worst uniform.
”The IFP is still trying get the name or names of who was given the contract to design and manufacture the uniform for our Olympic team, which was voted fourth-worst in Beijing.
”Who did not groan in disappointment when our team stepped out into the stadium? With an audience of billions around the world, what better way for South Africa to make a fashion statement?” asked Vos. — Sapa