A funding crisis at University Sport SA (USSA) has forced institutions and federations to cough up to get their athletes to the World Student Games in Korea next month.
USSA asked them to pay R20000 for each student to attend the July 3-14 showpiece after the Lotto funding they were expecting fell through, apparently because of uncertainty over the organisation’s status with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
USSA severed ties in 2013 after Sascoc had suspended Athletics SA (ASA).
USSA took that decision to enable their track and field athletes to compete at the Games that year in Kazan, Russia.
The athletes, who would have missed out had USSA remained under Sascoc’s jurisdiction, won 11 of the team’s 14 medals two years ago.
USSA president Professor Tyrone Pretorius said late Thursday afternoon Sascoc had sent a letter confirming that USSA had provisional membership, adding this would be set down to be formalised at the next AGM.
“The letter will form part of our Lotto application — they can see we are in good standing with Sascoc. Hopefully that will be the final hurdle.”
He was confident “the majority” of the 160-odd strong team would get to the Games in Gwangju.
The team includes some stars who are likely to feature at the Olympics next year, such as sprinters Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies as well as long-jumper Zarck Visser, the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya were initially on the team list, but had since withdrawn citing injury.
Times Media has learned that the University of Pretoria alone is paying R700000 for its Korea-bound athletes across the various sporting codes.
Rowing SA had come to the rescue of the nine rowers on the team, said Pretorius.
The three golfers and one gymnast were already being subsidised by their federations, by prior arrangement, because their rankings were low.
In total, SA are entering seven of the 21 codes on offer, including swimming, shooting and football.
“We are trying our utmost,” USSA secretary-general Louis Nel said.
“We would rather cut down on officials. We’ve already cut down on officials.”
Cash crisis hits students before Games
A funding crisis at University Sport SA (USSA) has forced institutions and federations to cough up to get their athletes to the World Student Games in Korea next month.
USSA asked them to pay R20000 for each student to attend the July 3-14 showpiece after the Lotto funding they were expecting fell through, apparently because of uncertainty over the organisation’s status with the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
USSA severed ties in 2013 after Sascoc had suspended Athletics SA (ASA).
USSA took that decision to enable their track and field athletes to compete at the Games that year in Kazan, Russia.
The athletes, who would have missed out had USSA remained under Sascoc’s jurisdiction, won 11 of the team’s 14 medals two years ago.
USSA president Professor Tyrone Pretorius said late Thursday afternoon Sascoc had sent a letter confirming that USSA had provisional membership, adding this would be set down to be formalised at the next AGM.
“The letter will form part of our Lotto application — they can see we are in good standing with Sascoc. Hopefully that will be the final hurdle.”
He was confident “the majority” of the 160-odd strong team would get to the Games in Gwangju.
The team includes some stars who are likely to feature at the Olympics next year, such as sprinters Akani Simbine and Henricho Bruintjies as well as long-jumper Zarck Visser, the 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medallist.
Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya were initially on the team list, but had since withdrawn citing injury.
Times Media has learned that the University of Pretoria alone is paying R700000 for its Korea-bound athletes across the various sporting codes.
Rowing SA had come to the rescue of the nine rowers on the team, said Pretorius.
The three golfers and one gymnast were already being subsidised by their federations, by prior arrangement, because their rankings were low.
In total, SA are entering seven of the 21 codes on offer, including swimming, shooting and football.
“We are trying our utmost,” USSA secretary-general Louis Nel said.
“We would rather cut down on officials. We’ve already cut down on officials.”
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