SOSA grateful for support ahead of Special Olympics World Summer Games
Eyewitness News has been following their progress since the launch of 'Adopt an Athlete' and with 14 days to go before the Games in Berlin, we caught up with some of the organisations that have stepped up to assist the athletes.
Special Olympics South Africa National Summer Games in Limpopo in 2022. Picture: Supplied.
JOHANNESBURG – Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) has selected a team to represent the country at the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin Germany, from 17 to 25 June.
As part of their “Road to Berlin” campaign, they asked the public to “Adopt an Athlete” to help cover the costs.
“Since its launch, the Adopt an Athlete campaign has received overwhelming support and engagement from individuals, organisations, and media across the nation. The response has exceeded our expectations, and we are immensely grateful for the generosity and passion for our athletes shown by all those who have embraced the campaign,” said Special Olympics South Africa CEO, Ancilla Smith.
Eyewitness News has been following their progress since the launch of “Adopt an Athlete” and with 14 days to go before the Games in Berlin, we caught up with some of the organisations that have stepped up to assist the athletes.
“Besides giving back to the community, we as InterCape saw it fit to adopt this athlete not only to give back but to empower, encourage and let it be known that InterCape does not only care for a certain part of the community but its a home for everyone who deserves to be sponsored, if within our reach,” said Shaun Smeda, chief commercial officer at Intercape.
The Special Olympics South African national team consists of 64 athletes and 21 coaches hailing from across South Africa.
“Have fun but in the words of the Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, 'You can become whatever you want to become, no matter what your background is,'" said Smeda.
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 Department of Sports remains responsible for sports. In the case of Special Olympics, we are using sports to be able to implement a lot of programmes for people with intellectual disabilities" said deputy minister of Social Development, Hendriette Bogopane-Zulu.
The deputy minister will join the national team in June to rally behind the athletes, saying she wanted to see more South Africans cheering disabled athletes on.
"I want them celebrated individually and collectively like everybody else because this creates role models for our parents who have disabled children that their children can achieve anything."
The cost for each athlete to attend the World Games comes to about R40,000 per athlete. Smith said that the majority of the Special Olympics athletes come from impoverished circumstances, and they make sure that they are able to provide everything that the athletes need to be able to represent our country with pride.
“We, as GOTG, are very proud of these amazing athletes, it shows how sports can motivate these young athletes and that having any intellectual disability should not be a barrier to being able to do anything. They are true ambassadors of this beautiful rainbow nation and by just going to the Olympics they have already made us so proud. We want to continue to support these athletes way beyond sports, especially in education, as we believe in changing lives." said Ahmed Bham from Gift of the Givers Foundation, South Africa.
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.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has embraced the Adopt an Athlete campaign. Your contribution is making a tangible difference in the lives of our Special Olympics athletes, empowering them to showcase their abilities and break down barriers," said Smith.