North West province hosts two National Disability Games

The North West province is proud host of the National Summer Games for the Deaf from the 24 to 28 March 2011 in Potchefstroom and the Nedbank National Championships for the physically and Visually Impaired in Rustenburg from the 26 to 31 March 2011.

The National Summer Games for the Deaf is multi coded national event held annually and it is presented by the South African Deaf Sport Federation (SADSF). The games are aimed at bringing excitement, zeal and absolute fun as athletes try to find their inner capabilities to break through their personal barriers. At this event all athletes of all ages, men and women from different backgrounds will meet and compete to be selected in the National Squad for the following events at Potchefstroom / Tlokwe Local Municipality:

• World Deaf table tennis Championship in Japan 2012
• World Deaf Athletics championships – Canada in July 2012
• World volley ball championships – Bulgaria- date not confirmed
• South African Deaf Soccer and Netball champions  by South Africa September 2011

Meanwhile :

The National Summer games for the South African Sport Associations for the Physically Disabled Athletes (SASAPDS) in partnership with Nedbank will be hosted in Rustenburg at Olympia Park Stadium. At these games also all athletes of all ages, men and women meet to compete and show case their talent in different sporting codes. The games will as well be a platform to select athletes who will represent the country at international level.

The only games which focus on the physically disabled and visually impaired in South Africa will see athletes from 10 regional associations and Namibia strive for glory on the following sporting codes:

• power lifting
• cerebral palsy soccer: cp soccer
• athletics (both track and field events)
• wheel chair tennis
• archery
• goalball
• cycling
• swimming

North West province has done very well in these sporting codes as two of our athletes have participated internationally already. Elizabeth Lekele for athletics and Allin Dingle for power lifting received gold medals each for South Africa in the 2010 (International Blind Sports Federation) IBSA power lifting & bench press World Championships in Turkey.

Media is invited to cover these events:

The National Summer Games for Deaf
Date: 24 to 28 March 2011
Venue: Potchefstroom, Ikageng Stadium
Time: 09h00

The National Summer games for the South African Sport Associations for the Physically Disabled Athletes

Date: 26 to 31 March 2011
Venue: Rustenburg, Olympia Stadium
Time: 09h00

For more information on this project please contact:
Ms Shirley Montsho
Tel: 018 388 2763
Cell: 082 345 9525

Source: North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture