By Obakeng Maje

The North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture joined forces with the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) over the weekend to help chart a path for sport in the Province and enhance co-operation in areas of mutual interest. 

“The event on March 10 was part of SASCOC’s visit to Provinces around the country” Vusi Kama said. 

” The leg of their roadshow at Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sport Foundation in Mahikeng also served to mark 500 days to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland” Tebogo Modise said. Young artists from Mmabana entertained attendees, who included the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mme Tebogo Modise and SASCOC President Gideon Sam. The essence of the engagement with sport stakeholders and the Department was to discuss the Confederation’s programmes such as Operation Excellence, Academies, Funding and Coaches Framework as well as exploring ways to enhance synergies between the Confederation’s and the Provincial Department’s programmes. 

 Presentations on the day included the Province’s role in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, 2015 All Africa Games and the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

“As a Province, we are very excited about the SASCOC initiative,” said Ms Modise. 

“As I have indicated before, our Province wants to be part of the success story of South Africa at an international levels. Engagements such as the ones we have had with the Confederation open up avenues so that we can all work towards a common goal. We are ready, willing and able to work with Mr Sam and his team” Modise concludes.

Mr Sam shared the same sentiment. “We explained that the Road to Rio campaign has already started in earnest, and we need help from all provinces to gain maximum benefit”. There will be national camps, and international camps to help our athletes. 

The meetings are part of SASCOC’s plan to engage all of the country’s provinces in a bid to come up with ideas and programmes to improve the country’s sporting structures and performances going forward. 

“This follows an extremely successful performance by Team South Africa at last year’s Olympics and Paralympics in London where the country returned with six medals from the Olympics and 29 medals from the Paralympics”

Modise adds.

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