SA Special Olympics team brings home 35 gold medals
Special Olympics SA team better medal count.
THE South African Special Olympics team of 2019 has bettered the medal count of the previous encounter.
The 2019 Special Olympics World Games was held in the United Arab Emirates from March 14 to 21 and over 7 500 athletes from 190 countries participated.
The SA team returned with 35 gold, 15 being from the Unified Football team, 15 silver and 12 bronze, setting a new record for Special Olympics South Africa.
Special Olympics South Africa CEO Ancilla Smith said: “Before we left I remarked in a number of interviews that I was confident that we would beat our last gold medal count of 15. This was the largest World Games ever with the highest number of participants, so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but as usual, our national team excelled.”
Dr Mathews Phosa, chairperson of Special Olympics South Africa, said: “Each and every one of you represents something far greater than any medal and mere sporting achievement, both in this country and, in fact, throughout the world. You prove to the world and to those who would continue to try and undermine you that people with an intellectual disability can and will succeed if they are given the opportunity. You prove to all those who would like to isolate and exclude people with an intellectual disability that you will not be silenced. You will not be confined to the shadows. You shine a light as bright as the sun on stigma and discrimination.”
Special Olympics SA is already gearing up to send the next national team to represent South Africa at the 2021 Special Olympics Winter Games in Sweden.
For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. You can also email our offices on cvdwalt@caxton.co.za, juliem@caxton.co.za or luckyt@caxton.co.za
Get regular news updates sent directly to your inbox: Newsletter-Signup
