THE triumphant 2012 London Olympic team is back home.
Taking into account Team SA's performance at the Beijing Olympics, we are satisfied with the all-round performance of our athletes as they represented us with complete commitment.
A significant number of them reached the respective finals of their individual and team events, which is an indication that our athletes went to the Olympics well prepared to give their best.
A special tribute must go to our medallists, Cameron van der Burg, Chad le Clos, Bridgette Hartley, Sizwe Ndlovu, Matthew Brittain, James Thompson, John Smith and Caster Semenya, our flag bearer. Their names will be forever remembered in the history of our nation.
The London Olympics has laid the basis for our march towards the next Games in Brazil in 2016.
We are confident that with the implementation of our National Sport and Recreation Plan and the lessons learnt that we will be propelled to greater heights.
To the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, under the leadership of Mr Gideon Sam, well done.
Last week we hosted the inaugural Netball Diamond Challenge at Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria, where we competed against Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. The tournament was held to provide a platform for the development of women's sport and netball in particular but most importantly to empower our young women.
The Spar Proteas netball team sealed a successful event by winning the tournament against the No1-ranked team in Africa, Malawi, in an epic final held on Saturday afternoon, 47-43.
It has shown that netball has the potential to grow into one of the premier sporting codes in South Africa and on the continent as we prepare to start the first fully professional netball league in April.
On Saturday our boys, the Springboks, took on the Pumas for their first match in the 2012 Rugby Championship at Newlands. Again they did not disappoint. Playing with vigour and passion, they walked over the Pumas.
This was a good start and our boys can only build on it. I wish them well for the restof the campaign.
We are also proud of the Proteas for making SA the No1 test nation in the world after beating England by 51 runs on Monday.
Vernon Philander raised his hand and delivered a match-winning performance by claiming a five-for with the ball that allowed us to clinch the series 2-0. I am sure that Mark Boucher will be well pleased with the effort and commitment of our team.
Yesterday our Paralympians took the baton from our glorious Olympic team to go and compete with the same determination at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, starting on August 29. We know that our Paralympians have prepared well and will bring pride and joy to our nation. In 2008 they won 31 medals, of which 21 were gold.
We ask only that they do their best and succeed in bringing back even more of those beautiful gold medals on offer in London.
We know that they are champions in their own right.
The performances by South African sportswomen and men over the past week illustrated our ability as a country to succeed and excel on the world stage. We can only do better.
Fikile Mbalula is Minister of Sport and Recreation
What a great week for South African sport
THE triumphant 2012 London Olympic team is back home.
Taking into account Team SA's performance at the Beijing Olympics, we are satisfied with the all-round performance of our athletes as they represented us with complete commitment.
A significant number of them reached the respective finals of their individual and team events, which is an indication that our athletes went to the Olympics well prepared to give their best.
A special tribute must go to our medallists, Cameron van der Burg, Chad le Clos, Bridgette Hartley, Sizwe Ndlovu, Matthew Brittain, James Thompson, John Smith and Caster Semenya, our flag bearer. Their names will be forever remembered in the history of our nation.
The London Olympics has laid the basis for our march towards the next Games in Brazil in 2016.
We are confident that with the implementation of our National Sport and Recreation Plan and the lessons learnt that we will be propelled to greater heights.
To the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, under the leadership of Mr Gideon Sam, well done.
Last week we hosted the inaugural Netball Diamond Challenge at Heartfelt Arena, Pretoria, where we competed against Botswana, Zambia and Malawi. The tournament was held to provide a platform for the development of women's sport and netball in particular but most importantly to empower our young women.
The Spar Proteas netball team sealed a successful event by winning the tournament against the No1-ranked team in Africa, Malawi, in an epic final held on Saturday afternoon, 47-43.
It has shown that netball has the potential to grow into one of the premier sporting codes in South Africa and on the continent as we prepare to start the first fully professional netball league in April.
On Saturday our boys, the Springboks, took on the Pumas for their first match in the 2012 Rugby Championship at Newlands. Again they did not disappoint. Playing with vigour and passion, they walked over the Pumas.
This was a good start and our boys can only build on it. I wish them well for the restof the campaign.
We are also proud of the Proteas for making SA the No1 test nation in the world after beating England by 51 runs on Monday.
Vernon Philander raised his hand and delivered a match-winning performance by claiming a five-for with the ball that allowed us to clinch the series 2-0. I am sure that Mark Boucher will be well pleased with the effort and commitment of our team.
Yesterday our Paralympians took the baton from our glorious Olympic team to go and compete with the same determination at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, starting on August 29. We know that our Paralympians have prepared well and will bring pride and joy to our nation. In 2008 they won 31 medals, of which 21 were gold.
We ask only that they do their best and succeed in bringing back even more of those beautiful gold medals on offer in London.
We know that they are champions in their own right.
The performances by South African sportswomen and men over the past week illustrated our ability as a country to succeed and excel on the world stage. We can only do better.
Fikile Mbalula is Minister of Sport and Recreation
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