It was small coincidence that Caster Semenya attended the recent Free State Sport Confederation launch and athlete celebrations with the Minister of Sport and Recreation. After all, the speedy Cheetah is featured on the province’s provincial emblem.
The colourful and vibrant event was held not only to announce the formation of the province’s sport confederation, but also to celebrate the achievements of the medal winners of last year’s Athletics World Championship in Berlin, especially Caster Semenya, but also the province’s own 57 world and continental medal winners.
Also in attendance was the Minister of Sport and Recreation Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, who in his speech had much praise for the province’s initiative in forming a sport confederation.
“The confederation is essential for a number a number of things to happen in sport, among them better liaison between provincial sport and national authorities. But they are also necessary to broaden participation in sport and foster well organised and effective talent identification,” the Minister said.
“Proper organisation is the key to proper participation,” he added.
The Minister was particularly impressed that the steering committee of the Free State Confederation of Sport was racially integrated; hand hoped that this would be the norm in future.
The Minister also used the platform to touch on many other central topics in sport. Speaking on the topic of foreign athletes participating in national teams, he reiterated that only South African citizens have the right to be included in national squads.
When the event finished after lunch, Caster and an entourage of athletes and officials were whisked away in an open air double deck bus to a nearby sports facility where Caster was due to hold coaching clinics for local children.
Despite time running out during the morning long event, the Minister made an effort to shake hands and have photos taken with each and every one of the medal winners, whose ages ranged from younger than ten to adults. Each athlete received a trophy from the province’s sports department, as well as a T-shirt courtesy of Sport and Recreation South Africa.
Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
18 January 2010
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa (http://www.srsa.gov.za/)
