The Special Olympics South Africa National Team have officially started the countdown to the 2023 Special Olympics World Summer Games which will be held in Berlin.
With the return of the inclusive sporting event, South Africa is guaranteed to leave another mark in the prestigious tournament.
Previously the national team shocked the entire world in the 2019 summer games edition which was hosted in Abu Dhabi. Athletes came back with a total of 62 medals (35 gold, 15 silver and 12 bronze) and are hoping to maintain their fighting spirit at this year’s challenge which will start on June 17 and finish on June 25.
While discussing past accolades and future plans of getting the team ready, the CEO of the Bryanston-based organisation, Ancilla Smith, discussed that the majority of athletes are faced with financial obstacles which might affect their departure for Berlin.
“The cost for each athlete to attend the games comes to about R 40 000. The majority of our athletes come from impoverished circumstances and we make sure that we are able to provide everything from toiletries and underwear to their official playing kit and equipment,” said Smith.
Their latest campaign known as ‘adopt-an-athlete’ aims to raise funds for each athlete.
The chairperson of Special Olympics South Africa, Dr Mathews Phosa, informed South Africans that their support is needed. “The Special Olympics South Africa athletes are the biggest medal winners in this country and yet they always receive the least support. It is time to change that narrative, their achievements are no less because of their disability, they are great. Special Olympics South Africa will once again be relying on corporates and the public to adopt an athlete.
The latest edition of the summer games will include 7000 athletes from 190 countries in what is dubbed the world’s largest inclusive sporting event.
“In previous years our national team has relied on the public, corporate and the National Lotteries Commission to make their dreams of representing our country a reality. This year we will again be calling upon all sectors of our society to help us get these athletes onto the winners’ podiums in Berlin where they belong,” concluded Smith.
The members of the organisation stated that individuals and companies which are unable to cover the full costs of an athlete’s participation can still display their support through the ‘Back a Buddy’ campaign:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/The-Road-to-Berlin-2023
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