Champions Challenge Dinner, Secunda
19 January 2006
Programme Director,
Mpumalanga Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC Nomsa Mtsweni,
Mayors Linda Tshabalala and Mdibanisi Tsheke,
Athletics South Africa President Leonard Chuene and Members of your
Executive,
Administrators, coaches and athletes,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you and welcome to Athletics South Africaâs Champions Challenge in
Mpumalanga. We feel immensely honoured to play host to these games, an
experience which will serve as an inspiration to many of our young athletes in
this region.
The schedule before you tomorrow is a full and interesting one. As you go
into the Champions Challenge, remember that all the people of this province,
black and white, are watching you with admiration. As government, on whose
behalf I speak here today, we will be present at the games to spur the athletes
on.
Your tournament takes place at a time when the country is really buoyant.
You meet here in the industrial hub of our province at a time when all the
signs are there, that our liberation, after almost a century of segregation and
apartheid oppression, introduced, for all of us, a Season of Hope. The results
of the recently-published Gallup Poll, which reflects the results of an
international survey carried out in 62 countries last year, shows an increased
optimism amongst our people. This finding is supported by the iExplore report,
which indicates that our country now ranks amongst the Top Ten Destinations in
the World.
This means that we are ahead of countries such as France, Italy, New
Zealand, Jordan and Argentina. Our highly positive Brand Image means that
indeed South Africa is Alive with Possibility! It is an image that conveys a
credible Promise, of vibrant and limitless possibilities for a better life for
all. This credible promise evokes a firm and definite expectation that indeed
the period ahead will realise the translation of the limitless possibilities at
hand into actual positive results.
It is therefore clear that in spite of our history and the persisting legacy
of our past, and despite the fact that we are one of the most racially diverse
countries in the world we are a shining example of what can be done to build a
non-racial and multi-cultural society, ensuring national reconciliation even
where there had been antagonism and conflict among different nationalities and
racial groups.
One area that caused lots of resentment in the past was the skewed
allocation of resources, including sports resources. In the last decade we have
achieved steady progress towards the restructuring of sports in our country.
That is why it is correct to conclude that our sport is alive with possibility.
The possibility to grow, expand and develop, producing more winners like Josiah
Tugwana, Jacques Freitag, Johan Cronje, Sydney Maree, Hezekiel Sepeng and
Mbulaheni Mulaudzi.
Since our re-entry into international sports, we have shown the world that
we indeed have men and women who can hold their own against the best in the
world. The medals collected by our sportsmen and women in international
meetings have left some sceptics dumbfounded. Some of the medallists are here
with us tonight, may we acknowledge them with a round of applause.
Sports, more than anything has the power to unite people and diverse
cultures, something that is quiet critical in a period where we are, as a
nation. As young men and women you have, in your own way, contributed to the
reconciliation processes so necessary in the building of a nation. And we can
proudly say sport has gone a long way in breaking down racial, social and
gender barriers as we work towards the building of a united, democratic,
non-racial and non-sexist society.
Programme Director, we need to fully harness the power of athletics to draw
tourists and investors into our country. That is why I am calling on all of you
to spread the word that Mpumalanga has one of the best and internationally
admired athletics training area, Dullstroom. The High-altitude and climatic
conditions in Dullstroom are the best for middle and long distance runners. But
to develop Dullstroom and other sporting facilities in the country, will need
more investment from the private sector in partnership with government.
Such partnership will ensure that all our sportspeople, regardless of race,
have the potential to develop to the full. The potential for such partnership
will make a significant contribution to addressing a variety of problems facing
our society and ensuring the total development of our youth in the field of
sport.
Let me, in conclusion, salute those tireless warriors who give so much of
their time and energy, sometimes without any reward, for their efforts, at
ensuring that sport and recreation is delivered from the lowest levels of
participation to the pinnacle of international competition.
I am speaking, of course, about coaches, officials, technical assistants and
volunteers. Without your dedication and passion, sport and recreation as we
know it, will not be possible in Mpumalanga and in South Africa. We wish all of
you all the success.
To the athletes, as you engage in this event that is the road to the
Commonwealth Games in Australia, go out there and give it your best shot. But
remember, even if you do not win, you are among the best, please enjoy.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
19 January 2006
