A robust transformation strategy for sport in the Gauteng province will be a high priority in 2017, the Gauteng Sports Confederation (GSC) announced on Tuesday.
Yaseen Lombard, GSC General Secretary said 2017 should be a watershed year for sports development in the province with racial, gender and disability transformation being vital priorities on the agenda.
“For 2017 we plan to focus deeply on the transformation of sport; building stronger relations with our more than 40 affiliated member federations and giving recognition to the people who have contributed towards the success of sports participation and administration in the province for the first time,” Lombard said.
The GSC plans to have completed a detailed transformation document by the end of this year.
The statement reads further: “The organisation is currently putting together a transformation commission that will work towards ensuring information reflected on the document is in conjunction with the true reflection of sports transformation in the province. The commission will cover aspects such as race, disability and women participation amongst other things.”
Lombard added, “A lot of the information that is needed to keep track of transformation relies on communication between the GSC and its affiliated federations. The approach this year is to create a year plan of projects and programmes that will be communicated to federations so that they can keep track and improve participation.”
The GSC says another “exciting project” for 2017 is the Gauteng sports legends initiative which will “ensure the province’s most noted sportsmen and women receive due recognition”.
“One of the major projects we have set for 2017 is to finalise our legends recognition programme. We plan to host an awards ceremony to give recognition and pay tribute to the legendary sportsmen and sports administrators who have played a role in sport in Gauteng in the past years.”
The GSC said a lack of funding remains its greatest challenge, as it is the key factor that hinders the progression of projects and programmes.
“The GSC is looking to improve the administration of their federations through capacity-building programmes and to focus largely on the development of sports in the province. Most of the GSC affiliated members do not have proper structures and it is the goal of the GSC to enrich them with proper administrative skills.”
He said that once their members are well capacitated and structured, sports administration, management and participation would improve substantially.
The enhancement of the Gauteng Sports Academy – a high performance programme which identifies talent and provides access to scientific testing and development towards professional competition is also on the cards.
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