Grannies event makes few changes

THE exciting annual Gogolympics, where grannies compete in various sports, is in its sixth year and is set to be bigger this year, as 2 000 gogos are expected to take part.

The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust event, which usually takes place in March at the KwaNyuswa Sports Ground, has made some changes this year.

Olivia Myeza, HACT CEO, said the Gogolympics will take place at the Molweni Sports Ground and will be held in April, as it is a cooler month than March. “March is usually very hot and gogos take strain and can not perform at their best. The reason for moving the location is because our gogo projects have grown so much over the past years and there are other support groups in other areas besides KwaNyuswa.

“The Molweni Sport Ground is also bigger and we will be able to run more sports at the same time.”

Myeza said the Gogolympics is also made possible with the support of eThekwini Municipality and the KZN Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation. “This year, Fishers Net has also partnered with us and they will be more involved in the sport side of the event. They will be training the gogos, starting in February, and will draw the schedules for the games,” she said.

Co-founder of the Gogolympics, Sister Cwengi Myeni, said the event was started to encourage grannies to do physical exercise. “Gogos needs to know the importance of exercise in order for them to be healthy. The grannies have many challenges and most of them are looking after their grandchildren.”

Myeni said she noticed this from her mom, who passed away at the age of 98, who was very fit when she use to stay at the farm where she kept busy. “Her health changed when we moved her to the township where she was not exercising and moving around. It is very difficult to live longer when you cannot do anything and are dependent on other people. The Gogolympics creates that excitement among the grannies and they get to see more people.

“Our gogo projects have grown so much over the years and there are more communities who have joined us.”

She said this year there will be more mkhulus (grandpas) who will also be taking part. Myeza added that they will really appreciate assistance from the community. “We call on all the young people who are passionate about sport to be involved and train the gogos in their areas. We are also looking for people or businesses who can sponsor bottled water and energy drinks.

“We will also need 400 loaves of bread, margarine and polony to make sandwiches for our old citizens,” she said.

Corporates can also sponsor a team by supplying T-shirts. Contact the Marketing Department at Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust on 031 765 5866 or e-mail marketing@hillaids.org.za.