The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) has announced an initial squad of 26 members that will represent the country at the 2024 Paralympic Games representing seven different sporting codes.
The team features some of the athletes who featured and won medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, and new athletes who have shined in recent competitions.
“It took you three years for your training to get to where you are now, to become another representative of this wonderful country and represent Team South Africa.
We’re looking forward to you standing up there on the podiums with your green tracksuits, where you’re going to be awarded with the medals.
Thanks to the coaches, managers, administrators, for putting their time and effort, thank you for getting us to where we’re right now,” said SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks.
The President also announced that the team incentives for the athletes, which will also include their coaches and guides.
“Gold medallists, athletes will receive R400 000, coaches receiving R100 000.
Silver medallists will earn R200 000, coach R50 000.
Bronze medallists will earn R75 000, coach R25 000.
The guides that are going to be with you, for the visually impaired athletes, will also receive the same pay-outs as the coaches of those athletes that earn a medal,” explained Hendricks.
He added that the incentives are testament of the commitments by SASCOC to the athletes.
Meanwhile Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has expressed confidence in the team, describing them as inspirational athletes.
“You are totally what we should be as South Africa.
You’re the epitome of where we should be as South Africans.
You have risen above your own circumstances.
You are for all of us, the greatest inspiration,” said McKenzie.
The Minister told the team that he’s confident that they will come back with gold medals to the country and assured them that he will engage with stakeholders to improve their well-being.
“My mission, my main priority as far as this inspirational team is concerned, is to make sure that they don’t shine only on stage, but when they get home, they worry and stress about debts, what they’re going to eat tomorrow, or how they’re going to survive.
I promise right here on this stage that I’m going to engage sponsors, the people in my department, Deputy Minister and I are going to make sure that we change what you do on the sporting field for us, we are going to do off the sporting field,” explained McKenzie.
According to SASCOC, qualification windows haven’t closed for several codes, including Para Athletics, Para Judo, Para Triathlon and Wheelchair Tennis, meaning that more names will be added before the team departs for Paris in August.
The 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris will be staged from 28 August to 8 September.
