'We are going to do better': McKenzie vows to fix funding issue for Olympic athletes
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie admitted that the country’s sportsmen and women had been failed by the leaders in the past and promised to fix the funding issue.
Olympic silver medalist Bayanda Walaza at OR Tambo International Airport. Picture: EWN/Jacques Nelles
JOHANNESBURG - Funding issues took centre stage, as Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie welcomed home South Africa's Olympic team.
On Tuesday, gold medalist Tatjana Smith and members of the 4x100m silver medal-winning relay team returned to the country and received a rapturous welcome from the crowd gathered at OR Tambo International Airport.
Not even a two-hour flight delay could dampen the spirits of those who came to the arrivals terminal on Tuesday.
Hundreds of friends, family, supporters and schoolmates came together to dance, sing and wave South African flags as they celebrated the achievements of the athletes at the Paris Olympics, where Team SA equalled their best total medal haul set in 2004 and matched in 2012.
The star that stole the show was undoubtedly 18-year-old relay silver medalist, Bayanda Walaza, who received the loudest applause from the crowd, while other athletes patiently took selfies with each and every person who asked.
In the middle of festivities, Minister McKenzie admitted that the country’s sportsmen and women had been failed by the leaders in the past and promised to fix the funding issue.
"We are a great nation. We are 60 million people, we need one of the strongest teams because we are a sporting nation. And we as politicians must admit that we could’ve done better, but we are going to do better, our athletes shouldn’t worry about money."
McKenzie has pledged to double the country’s contingent at the next Olympics in Los Angeles in four years.