Nation to celebrate Team SA

South Africans have been called to proudly wear the national team colours on Friday to celebrate Team South Africa’s achievement at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“This Friday, we are saying, wear your favourite national team jersey… Our message is clear – one nation, one team, one celebration, unite!

“To celebrate our achievements is something great for our nation; it unites people across political boundaries, irrespective of ideological background,” said Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula on Wednesday.

In terms of the celebration, the Minister said the athletes will ride on an open bus, where they will meet and greet their fellow South Africans, and take selfies.

Minister Mbalula, who hailed the athletes for bringing back home 40 medals, said the main celebration will take place at Mandela Square in Sandton in the afternoon, where the event will be broadcast on national televisions.

“To us as a country, to achieve 40 medals at the Commonwealth Games is an important achievement. We are in the age of hope in sport. We are living in the times when our sporting people are doing well.

“This is about seizing the moment, placing sport where it belongs in terms of uplifting the nation and feeding the soul of the nation. Our athletes have done exceptionally well, so they deserve to be recognised and celebrated.”

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee President, Gideon Sam, said: “We are on track now … what you see now indicated that we are beginning slowly to reap the fruits of a good plan. We are grateful that our athletes are receiving acknowledgement and recognition.”

Busaphi Nxumalo, a spokesperson from the Gauteng traffic police, said they are ready to escort the athletes on Friday. “We want to urge South Africans to cheer the fans by hooting and waving to our athletes who will be on the open bus.”

Team SA, which finished in seventh position in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, clinched 40 medals – 13 gold, 10 silver and 17 bronze medals.

Team SA participated in 15 different sporting codes including aquatics, wrestling, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, judo, lawn bowls, netball, para-powerlifting, rugby sevens, shooting and triathlon. – SAnews.gov.za