The Corner Flag: Disability sport deserves better

As Ekurhuleni Bowls prepares to host the International Bowls for the Disabled (IDB) championships in Kempton Park, Germiston and Benoni from May 18 to 31, my mind has been occupied by the role disability sport has played in our country.

After talking to the representatives of the Visually Impaired Bowls Ekurhuleni (VIBE) and Bowls for the Disabled SA (BDSA) last month, I was shocked to find out their athletes had to self-fund to participate in the competition.

Despite a plethora of achievements by our para-athletes in national, continental and international competitions and disability sport’s role in nation building since 1994, I think it hasn’t fully received the recognition it deserves.

Our athletes have always fared well, whether in the Paralympics, Commonwealth Games or any other international para-sport competition.

So, why is funding still an issue?

Why do these athletes always have to beg for funds to represent our country when we have administrative bodies such as SASCOC, which look after our sport?

Medals

Using the Paralympics as an example, it became evident at Barcelona 1992 that disability sport will play an imperative role in sport in our country.

Team SA returned from these games with four golds, one silver and three bronze medals, paving the way for future success for South Africa at the Paralympics.

In Atlanta 1996, SA broke five world and two Paralympic records. They won 28 medals. In Sydney 2000, they broke eight world records and brought home 38 medals.

In Athens 2004 they won 34, 30 in Beijing in 2008 and 29 in London 2012. They won 17 in Rio 2016 and received seven in Tokyo 2020 after SASCOC sent the smallest delegation to the games since 1992.

That’s a combined 191 medals compared to 32 won by SA at the Olympics between 1992 and 2020.

Why do we still look down on this overwhelming success and allow disability sport to suffer?

Passion

It’s also disappointing that many sporting achievements, individual milestones and administrative achievements by athletes with disabilities are not well documented or publicly acknowledged.

Take the many achievements by local bowlers May Homer and Gareth Reece-Gibbs for instance. They have continuously raised the country’s flag high at international competitions but are hardly acknowledged by sports administrators in the country.

In Atlanta 1996, four of the 28 medals SA won came from lawn bowls. It has become challenging for sports like bowls to send athletes to competitions abroad and even locally due to a lack of funding.

Added to this is the desire and burning passion for the green and gold displayed by athletes like Homer and Reece-Gibbs to fight for our country in world championships, despite a lack of financial support from SASCOC.

We can do better as a nation because “disabled children are equally entitled to an exciting and brilliant future”, as Nelson Mandela said.

Also Read: The Corner Flag: Why should athletes pay to use the Boksburg Stadium track?

Also Read: CORNER FLAG: Fix Boksburg Stadium and stop denying athletes access