THERE will be no place in South Africa's Commonwealth Games team for passengers, says Sascoc president Gideon Sam, and nothing but the best will be accepted from those who make the cut.

THERE will be no place in South Africa's Commonwealth Games team for passengers, says Sascoc president Gideon Sam, and nothing but the best will be accepted from those who make the cut.

"We will not be soft and there will be no passengers in the team," Sam said after South Africa's governing Olympic body bade farewell to the Queen's Baton on the last stop of its relay around the country at Sascoc House in Melrose, Johannesburg, yesterday.

South Africa was fifth at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, and Sam said the team would be expected to at least retain that position on the medals table in New Delhi in October.

"New Delhi is our first major step towards our goal of 12 medals at the London 2012 Olympics.

"We'll have to bring the athletes back on stretchers because there will be no reserves," he joked. - Sapa