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Selection takes place at 2008 Special Olympics South Africa National Winter Games
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The floor hockey team from Special Olympics Limpopo won not only the gold medal at the 2008 National Winter Games, but also the draw to represent Special Olympics South Africa at the 2009 World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho. Photos courtesy Special Olympics South Africa/Kevin Flee |
Limpopo Province in South Africa had every reason to celebrate on 16 June. The Special Olympics floor hockey team from that province won the gold medal in their division, and the draw to represent Special Olympics South Africa at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The team will soon be winging their way to the United Sates where they will join 2,500 athletes from 113 countries as they compete in the World Winter Games.
The draw took place after an event-filled three-day Special Olympics South Africa National Winter Games, which took place at the University of Pretoria's Indoor Sports Centre over the long week-end. Fourteen teams from six provinces took part in the competition and in a bid to be selected as the team to represent Special Olympics South Africa at the 2009 World Winter Games, taking place 6-13 February 2009 in Boise, Idaho, USA.
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The Honorable Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, South Africa Minister of Education (center), gave the keynote address at the Opening Ceremonies for the National Winter Games. Photos courtesy Special Olympics South Africa/Kevin Flee | More than 180 athletes paraded in the National Games Opening Ceremonies of the National Games on the evening of 14 June and were welcomed by Special Olympics South Africa Chairman Dr Mathews Phosa. “As a nation we will be able to cheer on our citizens as they face the cream of the crop in athletic competition in Boise, Idaho,” said Phosa. “Only 14 of the athletes here tonight will be selected, but with their hockey sticks, hockey pucks and their proudly South African smiles, they will say, 'I am a South African, I am a Special Olympics South Africa athlete, I am somebody!' ”
The Honourable Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, South Africa Minister of Education, delivered the keynote address at Opening Ceremonies. “Tonight, I am extremely proud and honored in my capacity as the Minister of Education to publicly commit my department and the departments in all nine provinces to support Special Olympics Programs in all of our schools and encourage all schools - special education and mainstream learners - to implement Special Olympics activities in all provinces.”
The Minister went on to commit the Ministries' support in ensuring that Special Olympics exceeds its goal of reaching 28,000 athletes and recruiting and training 1,400 coaches in South Africa by 2010.
Celebrity actor Emmanuel Castis was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Castis, who recently faced stiff competition of his own to win “Strictly Come Dancing,” was overwhelmed by the dedication of the athletes.
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Competition was fierce at the 2008 South Africa Winter Games. Fourteen teams from six provinces competed. Photos courtesy Special Olympics South Africa/Kevin Flee | “They have shown how to fight for a chance, train against the odds, persevere in the face of indifference, do one's best without inhibition, how to win,” Castis declared. “They teach that our lives depend on we, not me; they cross the boundaries of misunderstanding with the healing words: 'Come. Play with me. Break Free. Live the we.' If that's what it means to live like a Special Olympics athlete; then I want to live like a Special Olympics athlete!”
The Opening Ceremonies Torch Run was supported by the Tshwane Fire Brigade and the Special Olympics flame was lit by Special Olympics Limpopo athlete Rasejakate Pesa, who recently journeyed to Shanghai, China, and captured a gold and silver medal at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and the SASCOC Vice President Hagera Kajee.
Guests attending the National Winter Games included the Director General of Sport, Xoliswa Sibeko; the MEC of Sports, Arts and Recreation of Limpopo, Happy Joyce Mashambo; and a number of other government officials and industry captains.
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There are 45 Special Olympics floor hockey teams in South Africa. Photos courtesy Special Olympics South Africa/Kevin Flee |
Two days of competition ended on 16 June, National Youth Day in South Africa. Photos courtesy Special Olympics South Africa/Kevin Flee | The two days of fierce competition culminated in the awards ceremony and the draw and announcement of the Limpopo gold medal team as the team that will represent Special Olympics South Africa at the 2009 World Winter Games. At those Games, Team South Africa will be hoping to once again enact the words of their Global Chairman and Board member Ephraim Mohlakane, “Go out there and fight. Make South Africa proud!”
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