Programme Director
Head of the Department
Representatives of Sport Federations and Councils
Representatives of the Free State Sport Confederation
Management and officials in the department
Honoured guests
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades
Following the District Sport Indabas that were convened across our province we now converge in this Provincial Sport Indaba to consolidate a common vision as regard the direction we should all pursue. May I take this opportunity to welcome all the delegates to this all important Provincial Sport Indaba. I must also thank all those who have participated in the District Indabas that took place in various districts of the province.
These indabas are consultative processes through which we want to get the buy-in of all stakeholders and partners involved in sport. They are part of a democratic process as enshrined in our constitution and other legislative frameworks that says the state and state organs must derive their mandates from the people in carrying out their functions and responsibilities. These consultative processes are therefore not public relations exercises. They are also in line with our mission statement part of which states that we will establish structures of civil society to improve levels of governance and administration within Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. It is these structures of civil society that are gathered here, and have also done so during the District Indabas, that we are consulting with.
Programme Director, honoured guests, as we have pointed out before, these Indabas are a response to the call by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, in his endeavour to develop sport and encourage transformation of sport in South Africa, to host the National Sport Indaba to provide a fresh perspective and impetus on transformation, a perspective that posits equality, unity, access, and excellence at the centre of our national discourse.
As I have indicated above these indabas are not just a public show but are based on the principles which encourage cooperation with one another in mutual trust and good faith, therefore fostering friendly relations, assistance and support, information sharing, consultations on matters of common interest, coordination of actions and legislation and adhering to agreed procedures and promoting corporate governance. It then means that, having established a common vision around the running of sport in our province and country, we should all be moving in unison towards the realisation of that vision by fully
implementing all the elements agreed upon.
The purpose and objectives of this Provincial Indaba have already been
outlined. Let us restate them so that they become embedded in our hearts and thus not allow ourselves to sidetrack during our deliberations. These are to:
- assess and evaluate the implementation of sport agenda
- clarify and action the policy directives emanating from the revised White Paper that also capture the strategic directions of the Road map
- facilitate the collective buy-in from all stakeholders and role players to the National Sport Plan
- streamline implementation towards common objectives
- elevate public awareness of the National Sport Plan by means of an effective and targeted media campaigns
- finalise the Transformation Charter and Score Card for South African Sport
- promote good corporate in sport
- coordinate actions and resources when implementing policy matters
- coordinate and align government priorities.
I have no doubt that we will realise all these objectives during the course of this Provincial Indaba since I strongly believe that we all share the same unity of purpose and love for sport.
Programme Director, the issues we have to deal with during this indaba are quite central to the development and advancement of sport in our province and country at large. These issues are clearly spelt out in the programme of this Indaba and they include:
1. The national sport and recreation plan
2. State of sport in the Free State
3. Strategic approach to sport in a developmental state
4. Road map to Free State Sport Policy, and so on.
Our conscious and all rounded reflection on these and other issues will
certainly set sport in the Free State on a correct and higher trajectory
for years to come.
I will not dwell on these issues to allow this Indaba to fully and independently pronounce itself on these. Let me just point out one critical aspect of the Draft National Sport and Recreation Plan which reinforces the importance of participation in sport at the base level. The plan states that: “No country can expect to achieve and sustain success at the elite level without a strong participation base in the community, because that is
where every champion has their beginning.
The National Sport and Recreation Plan will specifically focus on the following strategic focus areas to assist with broadening the base of sport and recreation in South Africa:
1. The importance of offering sport and recreation in all schools within South Africa and ensuring that physical education is compulsory and implemented in all schools
2. The participation of the masses of our people in sport and recreation activities through dedicated and customised massbased programmes and projects. Grassroots sports programmes such as modified sport will be an important foundation for sporting codes. Mass participation initiatives will also include the organisation of annual national youth camps to keep young people active, interested in life with increased self-esteem, promote patriotism and a strong sense of citizenship among young people
3. The enhancement of healthy lifestyles through the provision of recreation programmes.
4. Contribute to job creation in the sport and recreation sector”. This statement from the Draft National Sport and Recreation Plan summarises what we have been emphasising in the Free State. Firstly, that our implementation of sport and other programmes must be aligned to the five (5) priorities and 12 outcomes as set by our government. For example, the promotion of healthy life style through recreational activities which relates to the health priority is something that we have entrenched through community sport with its various
programmes and projects.
Secondly, that we should pursue a sport continuum model which promotes mass participation in sport and recreation at the most basic level and identify talent at this level. This talent must then be enhanced through the Local Talent Development Centres and District High Performance Centres that we have and continue to open across the province.
At the pinnacle of this sport continuum we have the Provincial Free State Sport Science Institute which is at the most elite level of sport participation offering sport science and rehabilitation at the highest competitive level.
To respond to this call for participation in the Draft National Sport and Recreation Plan as the Free State we have embarked on the following programmes the Motlalepule Ntsala Soccer Games; Sipho Mutsi Sport Tournament; Dr Irvin Khoza Soccer Tournament; O.R Tambo Games; Rural Girls’ Games; Disability Games and so on.
We have also embarked on an sport infrastructure development programme that entails the building of sports facilities such as the Multipurpose Sport Courts; Local Talent Development Centres; District High Performance
Centres; Community Gyms; Boxing High Performance Centre and so on. All these serve to enhance participation by our local communities even in the most remote and rural areas of our province.
We are therefore proud that we are on track as the Free State as regard
the vision that we need to be pursuing in advancing sport and recreation. We shall and we should however not rest for a moment. We are not there yet. We must continue to marshal all the energies and resources to ensure that full participation by all our communities is enhanced in this province.
I have no doubt that this Provincial Indaba will help us to do just that.
May I wish this indaba all the best in its quest to realise the abovestated
objectives.
I thank you.
Source: Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation
