School sport remains the base of sports development and it is where future sporting athletes are created, said Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday, ahead of the commencement of the School Sports Championship at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Athletics Stadium in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, today.

The age group for today's event is between nine and 13 years. Another event for the 14 to 19 years age group will take place in Bloemfontein next week.

"This is another platform to foster transformation in sports because those identified athletes will be nurtured and monitored into becoming future athletes, which as a country we would be able to pride ourselves.

"These championships are seen within the context of broader efforts to promote access to sport and recreation, develop the youth, build unity and pride and grow the sport and recreation sector. Our junior athletes will be afforded ample opportunity to be scrutinised and depending on their performances, those with potential will then get chosen to join our sport-focused school programme," Mbalula said. -