Programme Director;
Deputy Minister: SRSA, Mr G. Oostuizen;
Acting Director-General, Ms S. Khan;
Leadership of SASCOC;
Presidents and CEO’s of all the Federations present here;
Sports men and women who are here with us this afternoon;
Parents and family members of all our athletes;
Media Houses in our midst;
Friends and Compatriots; I greet you all!!
I would like to thank the programme director for affording me this opportunity to address our fellow sports men and women who are gathered here today to celebrate victory and excellence.
Programme Director, indeed, the world has changed; and the world continues to change; and it is human beings that hold within their mortal hands the power to drive this change; and take their nations forward in the journey of change; and ensure that all humanity strive to abolish all forms of human suffering, including poverty, underdevelopment and diseases; and hatred.
Worldwide, human beings contribute in the struggle for change through their participation in many activities, including Sport and Recreation; with them they carry positive messages of human sacrifice and human solidarity.They do this through the messages of peace, humanity, non-racialism, non-sexism and empowerment of the powerless; including fair play.
Fellow South Africans, this gathering marks an important phase and milestone in our efforts to ensure that our athletes and sports persons in general are motivated to strive for excellence.It marks the beginning of a continuous journey of recognizing efforts and sacrifice of all our sport loving youth in their struggles to break all odds in a mission to succeed.
Our gathering here, this afternoon, has great significance as we build on efforts of excellence and triumph of the collective sport and recreation community to further strengthen our sporting systems and structures to function for the better.
This function, therefore, is a token of appreciation and little gesture by the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa, on behalf of the government of the Republic, to the sons and daughters of the soil who fearlessly faced the foreign threats and became victorious.
This function is unique and it has been deliberately arranged in the hope that SRSA can begin a process of ensuring that South Africa moves swiftly in recognition of its own talent and excellence at all levels of participation; and move sport and recreation to higher trajectory and ensure that we raise our flags wherever we compete.
This platform presents us with a golden opportunity to know each other; to motivate one another; and build from that foundation of a united, non-racial and non-sexist sporting nation and people.
Our success in the field of play plays an important role to take South Africa to higher heights in its journey towards social cohesion, nation building and patriotism.The success of our athletes in fierce competitions is a direct reflection of a people determined to succeed.It is a reflection of an Active and Winning Nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we are assembled here, today, as a collective within the sporting fraternity signifying renewal, as well as continuity and change in the way we conduct ourselves on and off the field, especially in the foreign land.For the fact that you were all selected to represent the country in different capacities and codes, domestically and foreign, is a clear indication of the trust our nation has on all of you; especially towards your conduct.You are all the winners; by virtue of representing South Africa; you are the winner.Whether you came back with a medal or not; whether you failed or not; you are a winner. We are victors; not villains.
As Kenneth Boulding once said:
“Disappointment; failure; and frustration are the main agents of change.Success is a poor teacher, for it usually only confirms us in what we thought we already knew”.
You made it thus far.You have triumph and defeated the enemies of progress; and mediocre minds.Next year, 2012, some of you will represent our country in the London Olympics.You have won the first lap.Go until the finishing line and become victorious.
Laurence Malone and Bobby Knight have put this into context when they concluded that:
“The finishing line is sometimes merely the symbol of victory.All sorts of personal triumphs take place before that point, and the outcome of the race actually is decided long before the end.” By Laurence Malone.
Bobby Knight takes it further and says:
“The key is not the ‘will to win’ – everybody has that - It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”
We are, notably, inspired by the growing participation of women in competitive sport.We are impressed by their continued growing victories in championships, including people with disabilities; and youth from disadvantaged and neglected communities.
SRSA will continue to encourage mass participation of the vulnerable groups in sport and recreation in order to changing the gender imbalances and the participation of all young people with disabilities; including changing demographics.
In this regard, we should together resolve to strengthen our spiritual, moral and material support to all our sportspersons.We should do this determined to meet all the basic needs of all our sportsmen and women.By doing so, we enable all our athletes to discharge their duties entrusted upon them by the nation with diligence; and putting first and foremost the Republic of South Africa.
I would like to extend a special vote of thanks to the parents of all our young athletes.I make this special thanks to these parents because without them we would not be able to have these excellent athletes in our teams.
It is parents who give them parental, material and moral support in every hour of need in order for these youngsters to participate meaningfully in sport.Without dedicated parents to the cause of these young people; sport and recreation will not triumph.Our nation is, indeed, indebted to these fellow South Africans.We thank you very much.
Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all present here today to pay tribute to all our sporting martyrs.I would like to also take this opportunity to thank all our valuable sponsors, the organisers, the officials; and all the people who made this august event a success.
I thank you.
