Special Olympics SA: 'Adopt an Athlete' campaign launches ahead of World Games

JOHANNESBURG – Special Olympics South Africa has selected a team to represent the country at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin Germany, from 17 to 25 June.

“Our Special Olympics South African national team consists of 64 athletes and 21 coaches hailing from across South Africa,” said Special Olympics South Africa CEO Ancilla Smith.

The Special Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in 26 sports.

“The team was chosen at the 2022 Special Olympics South Africa National Games that took place in Polokwane, Limpopo last year. Over 700 athletes from all 9 provinces competed over three days for the opportunity to be part of the national team,” Smith told Eyewitness News.

As part of their “Road to Berlin” campaign, Special Olympics South Africa has asked the public to “Adopt an Athlete” to help cover the costs.

“The costs for each athlete to attend the World Games comes to about R 40,000 per athlete. The majority of our athletes come from impoverished circumstances, and we make sure that we are able to provide everything that they need to be able to represent our country with pride,” said Smith.

The “Adopt an Athlete” campaign has been successful in raising the necessary funds for the past three World Games, and the organisation is hoping this year is no different.

“The athletes of Special Olympics South Africa are the biggest medal winners in this country, and yet they always receive the least support. It is time that we change that narrative, not just in terms of the funding, but also in terms of the recognition they receive after successfully representing our country”, said chairperson of Special Olympics South Africa, Dr Mathews Phosa.

At the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in the United Arab Emirates, Team South Africa brought home 35 Gold, 15 Silver and 12 Bronze medals.
“Even in the disability sport sector, there is little attention and support for athletes with an intellectual disability. And the little support that is given is predominantly to elite athletes. Special Olympics is not an elite sports organisation... We understand that because of the different levels of disability among our athletes, some athletes will never be able to compete at an elite level, no matter how much training they do,” said Smith.

Smith said this was why the organisation came up with a unique system of division athletes according to ability level, from local competitions to the World Games.

The system ensures that no athletes are excluded because of the severity of their intellectual disability, and accommodates athletes with both intellectual and physical disabilities.

"Special Olympics South Africa itself serves over 57,000 athletes in South Africa and offers 17 sporting codes, and yet we still have to fight for recognition in the sports arena. Awareness has been growing steadily due to efforts to educate various sporting organisations about intellectual disability and Special Olympics. We have also been getting more awareness among South African society as a whole due to the coverage we receive from the media,” said Smith.

The organisation has asked for equipment sponsors for their athletes, and for donations from individuals or companies unable to cover the full costs of an athlete’s participation, through their Back a Buddy campaign.

LIST OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT NEEDED

    Soccer: Soccer boots, shin guards, soccer balls - for male and female players;
    Basketball: Basketball balls, basketball sneakers;
    Athletics: Running sneakers;
    Golf: Golf Clubs and Golf shoes;
    Aquatics: Swimming caps, Male and Female swimming gear and goggles; and
    Table tennis: Table Tennis Bats.

Click here for more information on Special Olympics' Back a Buddy fund.