The long wait is finally over as Team SA will officially kick off their Paralympics games campaign that will get underway on Wednesday.
The 17th edition of the para sports event, which is governed by the International Paralympic Committee, will be held in Paris, France from 28 August until 8 September 2024.
The 26 Athletes who will be representing SA in these games arrived on Monday in Paris and have already settled in at the athlete’s village.
Team SA will battle it out in sporting codes including Swimming, Wheelchair Tennis, Athletics, Boccias, Archery, and Cycling amongst others.
The squad walks into the 2024 event with three medallists from the Tokyo 2020 games including a mixture of experienced and new Paralympians.
It will be interesting to see which new records they will set next after they scooped a total of seven medals and cracked three peak records during the Tokyo games.
Following the announcement of the team in July, President of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympics Committee (SASCOC), Barry Hendricks assured them that Mzansi will be rallying behind them fully.
Amongst those who also pledged their support was Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie.
“You’re 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 and I have no doubt that you will come back with gold,’’ said McKenzie as he praised the team.
The winners will be rewarded with financial incentives as follows:
- Gold Athletes – R400,000
- Coach – R100,000
- Silver Athletes – R200,000
- Coach – R50,000
- Bronze Athletes – R75, 000
- Coach – R25,00
Meanwhile, prizes for Boccia will be applied in the following order, R200,000 per athlete and R100,000 for the coach for a gold medal, R100,000 per athlete and R50,000 for the coach for a silver medal and R40,000 per athlete and R20,000 for the coach for a bronze medal.
