Germiston Stadium was alive last weekend with an action-packed sporting programme featuring six codes.
Youngsters competed in swimming, athletics, basketball, netball, rugby and football in the OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games.
Over 1 300 young and talented athletes from across Gauteng descended on the stadium in the name and memory of one African leader (OR Tambo) and one Italian leader (Giuseppe Soncini).
Seven teams took part, namely team Joburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, Tshwane and West Rand who represented various municipalities, as well as the School Sport team made up of learners from various Gauteng schools and an Italian team from the Emilia Romagna region.
This was the third annual competition and Tshwane took top honours at this year’s event, claiming their maiden win in the competition.
Last year’s winners, Team School Sport, could only manage third position.
Team Tshwane, made up of the best talent from across its region, narrowly edged out the hosts Ekurhuleni by just one point, leaving Ekurhuleni in second position.
Tshwane dominated in rugby as both the male and female teams won gold, while Ekurhuleni won gold in male soccer.
School Sport won gold in basketball.
The guest team from Reggio Emillio in Italy did not compete for medals.
It was a good day out on the playing fields for athletes, parents and the community who came out in their numbers to give much-needed support to the young ones.
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Bringing down the curtain to the games, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe said, “As we come to the end of the games, I congratulate all the winners and participants.
“A big thank you to all who made these games a success and we look forward to hosting a much bigger and more successful edition in 2020.
“The games are not only about competing on the field but celebrating the selflessness of both OR Tambo and Giuseppe Soncini, who advocated for non-racialism and gave their lives towards the liberation of the oppressed.”
The games, which are organised by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, in partnership with the metro and the Gauteng Sport Confederation, were held as part of celebrating and honouring liberation icon OR Tambo.
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