Commonwealth Games brings youth development

A South African youth legacy project for the 2022 Commonwealth Games called Nation of Champions was announced at Montecasino on 23 September. The games will be held in Durban. Nation of Champions is an online platform meant to act as a social network movement for young entrepreneurs.

The project should allow free access to courses for developing skills and allow a free-flow of communication to provide or receive services centred around the predicted business boom surrounding the Commonwealth Games. The initiative was created by South African entrepreneur, Madoda Khuzwayo.

A panel convened for the announcement consisting of Khuzwayo, CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, David Grevemberg, communication manager at the Department of Correctional Services, Thami Zondi, president of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Gideon Sam and MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Lebogang Maile.

Questions from the audience sparked conversation about sports development in South Africa. Bafana Bafana coach, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba, was even called upon to comment. He echoed the opinion of a number of the panelists that South Africa has sporting talent and potential but is hindered by its structures. He added that seven years until the games is “just around the corner” in terms of sporting development.

Grevemberg, who was witness to the successful sporting development in Glasgow surrounding the previous Commonwealth Games, said that in his experience successful initiatives involved the private, public and third sectors and urged for a good relationship between business and government.

Although Khuzwayo was adamant about the benefits of Nation of Champions as a business endeavour, it has gained the endorsement of SASCOC and the Commonwealth Games Federation.