Special Olympics South Africa to send more than 120 athletes to Russia in 2023 Winter Games

The Special Olympics South Africa (Sosa) in partnership with YFM hosted the fifth annual Polar Plunge at Altitude Beach in Fourways on September 18.

Scores of people flocked to Altitude Beach to plunge into ice-cold water to support the Special Olympics national team. Sosa chairperson Mathews Phosa said the aim of the event was to raise funds to support local athletes who will represent the country at the 2023 Special Olympics Winter Games in Russia.

“The Polar Plunge is an annual Special Olympic South Africa fundraising event, which has received overwhelming support from media, celebrities and corporate South Africa over the past four years. The aim of the event is to raise funds to support our athletes at Special Olympics Winter Games that was supposed to be held next year but moved to 2023 because of the pandemic, and encourage members of the public to support people living with mental disabilities,” he said.

Phosa said Sosa will send more than 120 athletes to the Special Olympics to represent the country. “We don’t want to see people living with intellectual disabilities being marginalised simply because of their conditions. We want them to be included in all sport activities and enjoy themselves like any other people at home, in schools, churches and in any public space. In 2023, we will send more than 120 athletes to Russia and we are very pleased with the support we’ve received from the public.”

He added that the organisation hosts different fundraising events. “We have lottery and Gift of The Givers as our main sponsors. We hosts events of this nature nationwide to avoid relying on our mother body in Washington.”

Phosa concluded, “We also encourage members of the public to donate.”