Rio is going big

The beautiful landscape of Rio de Janeiro

After the success of the 2012 Olympic Games held in London, Rio de Janeiro will have difficult shoes to fill. But I am sure they will impress the world, because this Olympic Games will be the first for South America. One of the many improvements they are making is building a new golf course clubhouse for accommodations for the public. This accommodation will include a big balcony looking out over the beautiful landscape of Barra but most importantly still have the vibe of Rio.

The organising and preparations for such a world class event is huge. The success will all be determined by the participation of the world. I cannot wait to see what they have to bring to the event and surely to see how the South African athletes will do there.

SASCOC is important

The Rio de Janeiro Paralympics is 1434 days away and SASCOC is already busy to get prepared for the Paralympic Games held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. “SASCOC  is South Africa’s national multi-coded sporting body that is responsible for the preparation, presentation and performance of teams in multi- coded events like: the Olympic Games, Paralympics Games, Commonwealth Games and World Games. www.sascoc.co.za

SASCOC ready for 2016

 SASCOC, along with other sporting federations celebrated the success of the Paralympic athletes and congratulated them on the medals they received at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. “There is a long road ahead and necessary steps will be taken to improve on the skill of the athletes for the 2016 Paralympic Games.” Words for CEO Tubby Reddy. SASCOC is one of the leading organisations that help to improve and support the athletes of South Africa. The success the athletes received at the 2012 Paralympic Games must surely encourage more people and organisations to invest in our athletes. As a unified nation it is important that we keep the momentum going for the next four years so that preparations can be done for the next Paralympics Game and that our athletes can receive even more success.

 

Athletes getting rady for the 2016 Paralympic Games

 

Natalie's final swim

The inspiring Natalie du Toit

Natalie du Toit is one of the most inspiring athletes South Africa has  ever seen. She is a 10^th time Paralympics Gold Medallist. She earn five gold medals in the 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle, 400m freestyle, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley and a silver medal in the 100m backstroke at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and yet she raise some concerns for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

 The reason for the concerns is because she wants to end her career with a big bang, receiving gold for all her swimming events. As we know her and the reputation she build up, it is not impossible to achieve her goals. All the friend, family and even the nation support behind her she can certainly have a successful final Olympic Games. She has such a great career as a South African swimmer and the inspiring moments she had in the world swimming pool really put South Africa’s name on the map.  

 

Natalie swimming for victory

Oscar Pistorius, crossing the line

Oscar Pistorius

He is one of, not only South Africa’s most inspiring athletes, but in the world as well. He is such a great inspiration for athletes to go out and reach their dreams and to achieve their goals in live, no matter what the conditions may be.  But was the 2012 London Paralympics’ men 200m finals one too many? He caused big controversy last week at the finals when he accused his opponent of having an unfair advantage because his blades were longer than the other blades. Pistorius came in second place after Brazils’ Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira with a time of 21.52.

 Because of this shocking result he was furious, telling the cameras that: “we aren’t racing a fair race.” www.news24.com/oscarpistorius. This statement, coming from a man who had to fight a long and hard battle to convince the panel that he does not have an unfair advantage in competing in the non-disabled Olympic Games. Pistorius wants to be known as an athlete, not disabled but able, not a cheat but a role model who inspire the world. Was this statement then merely a response of defeat or is there a change of heart taking place? Oscar Pistorius may have lost a little ambition during that race but the 2012 London Games and the spectators of the Games have gained a memory that will never be lost and will be remembered for many years.

Chad le Clos's big break

le Clos at the 2012 London Olympic Games

One of the many characteristics of the Olympic Games is to inspire young upcoming athletes to become the best they can be, by performing their sport activity to the best of their ability. That is exactly what Chad le Clos did at the Olympic Games during the Men’s 200m Butterfly Finals. He claimed the gold medal at the London Games. This is his first medal at any Olympic Games. What a great way to begin his young career?

 Virgin Active South Africa saw an opportunity to be part of the team who supported him during the Olympic year. www.virgin.com/chad. Chad is now one of the new endorsers, alongside Ryk Neetling, for the SWIM program. This program was established for swimmers of all levels, fit or not fit to help them improve their performance. This sponsorship and endorsement may change his life forever. According to Ryk Neetling, his manager, the important thing is to allow them to focus on his swimming, but at the same time his live has been irrevocably changed.

Chad le Clos

 It is amazing to see how well South African sport stars are doing and that the big successful organisations take the initiatives to sponsor them and to uplift our country.  

le Clos and Neetling at the SWIM launch for Virgin Active South Africa

Caster, South Africa's silver star

For Caster Semenya it does not matter if you start in the back or in the front, it matters how you finish . And she knew that very well then she found herself in the last place at the start of the finals for the Women's Olympic 800m race and ended with the silver medal around her neck.

Semenya waving the South African flag at the
2012 Olympic Games

She made many South Africans proud when she finished in second place behind Russia's Mariya Savinova (1:59:19). This was Semenya's best race this season with the time of 1:57:23. She will cherish that silver medal, especially after the 3 difficult years she had experienced. After she won the gold medal in the World Junior Championships in 2008 allegations arose and she was forced to undergo a gender test which sidelined her for almost a year because the Track and Field Governing Body were deciding whether she could compete again or not. Despite all she has been through, she rised to the top at the Olympic Games- finishing in second place.

"I see a pretty good future for me now," Semenya said. And we all know what that she meant by that...hopefully a gold medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Taking in perspective what she went through the last 3 years, all the media attention she received, she still managed to do very well in her first Olympic Games. Only a better, more golden future can be expected from the country's silver star. 

Schoeman vs Sascoc

Roland Schoeman at the 2012 Olympic Games

Roland Schoeman, one of South Afica's most dedicated swimmers and a four-time Olympian, launched an attack against the South Afican Olympic Body for lack of support during the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games. He celebrated a personal victory during the final of the men's 50m freestyle, finishing in sixth place. " I would have love to have been faster," said Schoeman. He did not receive any support from the SA Olympic Body in the past year and a half. According to Schoeman, if he had the same financial support as Chad le Clos and Cameron van der Burgh, the end results would have been better.

Looking back at his career as a South African swimmer, I will say that he definitely made South Afica pround and introducing our name to the score board. Receiving no support from Sascoc I believe he had some disadvantage compared to Le Clos and Van der Burgh. In 2004 (Athens Games) he received a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle, a silver in the 100m freestyle and a gold medal for 400m freestyle. www.sport24.com/olympics2012. When you take into account that he is such a great sportsman, we as a country expect that Sascoc should support the athletes representing our country in the Olympic Games.

The duty of Sascoc is to help the athletes representing our country and provide assistance in their training. They should help our athletes as much as possible, especially as Olympic sports are not a sustainable paying profession. All I can say is that it is much better to use the Sascoc budget on our athletes than using it for their own personal needs.  

The South African flag representing the types of sports seen at the Olympic Games