Today marks the launch of the Inaugural National Sports Week. Against the backdrop of the National Development Plan (Vision 2030) (NDP), sport is recognised as an important pillar in promoting social cohesion and nation building in South Africa. In 2011, the entire sporting fraternity adopted the National Sport and Recreation Plan to give credence and expression to the NDP. The National and Recreation Sports Plan was further developed to reconstruct and revitalise the delivery of sport and recreation towards building an Active and Winning nation.Globally, sport has gained the attention of countries as a key contributor to several priorities of Government. World leaders increasingly acknowledge that sport touches every aspect of a nation’s ethos.
Sport is a significant part of any nation’s culture, leisure time, health and education. When integrated into the broader framework of development, sport constitutes an important tool for advancing sustainable development in the different sectors of society. Many sports tourism activities require the services provided by members of the destination community – thus they have the potential to bring about social benefits by creating employment that would not otherwise exist.
Over the past decade, United Nations (UN) agencies, international sports federations, international non-governmental organisations and grassroots organisations have been using sporting events as tools for social development and peace. Also on the African continent there are examples where international sporting competitions were the unifying factor between communities and nations that were at conflict with each other. In our own country major sporting events contributed to breaking down the barriers of apartheid and to contribute to peaceful change, social cohesion and nation building.
The National Development Plan (NDP) in South Africa clearly recognises the role that sport plays an important role in promoting wellness and social cohesion. It also acknowledges the importance of increasing access to international tourism. In the NDP South Africa is positioned as a conference and sports event destination and an area of global niche tourism. However, the NDP also emphasises that South Africa can do more to develop the region as an international tourist destination by accentuating the broader biodiversity, cultural diversity, scenic beauty and range of tourism products, and making it easier for tourists to travel between countries in the region.
As the Department of Sport and Recreation we are tasked with the mandate to ensure equitable access, development and excellence at all levels of participation through initiating and implementing targeted Campaigns and Programmes.
One such targeted Campaign is the inaugural National Sports Week. The strategic intent of the National Sport Week is to inculcate the development of sports; driving business through sport and to foster open communication as a way to overcome the challenges confronting the sporting fraternity. The National Sports Week further highlights four key activation platforms which are underlined by a 4-pronged strategy in delivering the following programme elements for the duration of the week: Discussion, Showcasing, Engaging and Honoring.
Today we are gathered here to outline the programmes that will underscore the activities during the following seven days. The first one being the International Sport Exchange Conference.
International Sport Exchange Conference will take place on Sunday 15 November 2015 – Thursday, 19 November 2015
The theme for the International Sport Exchange Conference and Exhibition is “Advancing Development and Business through Sport”
The International Sports Exchange Conference will be attended by international and national guest speakers, panelists and facilitators in the sporting movement, academia, private and public sector coming together to debate and DISCUSS pertinent issues which include policies, trends, research and frameworks in the interest of advancing the business of sport.
The 5 core streams of the Conference are: i) The Business of Sport and Recreation; ii) Sport medicine, Sport Science and Technology; iii) Sport Governance and Transformation; iv) The future of amateur sport in a developmental state and v) The National Sports Exhibition.
National Sports Industry Exhibition will be taking place from Sunday, 15 November 2015 - Wednesday 18 November 2015
The National Sports Industry Exhibition will showcase the products and programmes available within the sport ecosystem. It will further expose the youth and all stakeholders to the entire value chain within the sporting industry and encourage collaboration and maximise networking opportunities. The exhibition will attract major companies in sport manufacturing, national federations, sport clothing companies, sports nutrition companies, the fitness industry, sport academies and major general sport clubs, sport committees and schools. The exhibition will also serve as a business platform that aims to create networking opportunities for the sport industry professionals. A wide range of government organisations and companies will also attend this event.
The Ministerial Outreach Programme will be taking place from Tuesday, 17 November to Saturday, 21 November 2015
As part of the Ministerial Outreach Programme various schools and local sport clubs have been identified in five areas in the Free State Province: Welkom, Hanover, Botshabelo, Kroonstad and Thaba Nchu. We will, in pursuance of the objectives of the Departments hand over equipment and sport apparel to schools and sport clubs in disadvantaged communities.
The Ministerial Golf Day will be taking place on Friday, 20 November 2015
In Advancing Business through Sport, we have further created a platform to engage key senior business principals and other stakeholders who play a pivotal role in the advancement of sport to a day of golf. The platform is intended to annually provide an opportunity to identify a worthy cause for which the players on the day can help raise funds towards that worthy cause.
The South African Sports Awards will taking place on Sunday, 22 November 2015: The pinnacle of the National Sports Week
The National Sports Week will culminate in a spectacular showcasing of the best sportsmen and women in South Africa at the South African Sports Awards. The activation platform of honouring is advanced through the appreciation of the success of athletes locally, continentally and internationally and that honour is bestowed on them through the South African Sports Awards (SASA). SASA is the basis upon which their sporting ethic and excellence are recognised, celebrated, rewarded and honoured. The Sports Awards will take place at the Sand Du Plessis Theatre in Bloemfontein, Mangaung in partnership with the Mangaung Local Municipality. For those of you who cannot make it to Mangaung, watch the awards broadcast live on SABC and on Supersport.
The National Sports Week will be an annual event which will further see its expansion to the public and private sectors. Our aim is that the annual Sports Week will be owned and driven by the entire sporting fraternity.
Our infinite gratitude is extended to the Cricket South Africa and Titans Cricket Club for the pioneering partnership.
I would like to thank all the organisers and key role-payers of the National Sports Weeks for a spectacular programme of action. We invite South Africans to join and actively participate in the forthcoming activities.
