By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GettyImages.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) has presented an Honorary President of SASCOC award to the high-profile anti-apartheid campaigner Dr Sam Ramsamy.
Ramsamy campaigned hard against discrimination in sport as chairman of the South Africa Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC) during the apartheid years of 1976 to 1990.
The honorary IOC member became head of the SASCOC in 1991 and held the role until 2005.
The 84-year-old was appointed Honorary President at the SASCOC’s first hybrid General Council Meeting of 2022, attended by 63 members.
The SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks, congratulated Ramsamy on the Honorary President of SASCOC Award, “Congratulations to Dr Sam Ramsamy, a dedicated leader who contributed to the history and growth of sport, protected the integrity of sport in SA at a time where there was discrimination in sport participation at World events.”
“He worked hard to ensure that the Olympic movement grew and would prosper after 1994 when the new dispensation took place. Ramsamy was the very first president for an Olympic structure in South Africa, a previous International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, and now an honorary member of the IOC. As a board we have decided to honour Ramsamy with an Honorary President award, “Hendricks added.
Ramsamy was first elected as an IOC member in 1995 and was on the Executive Board from 2006 and 2014.
The International Swimming Federation vice-president finished his term of office at the IOC at the end of 2018 after turning 80.
The IOC President Dr Thomas Bach also congratulated Ramsamy on the new appointment virtually. “I would like to congratulate Sam on being appointed the Honorary President of SASCOC award. Sam is a living legend in the world of sport and the fight for justice and apartheid. When I was going through the history books, I saw how he led Team SA back to the Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona with dignity and pride back on a world stage after the fight was over and the new era for justice and inclusivity for sport in SA would start.”
Hendricks has also informed the membership in attendance of the meeting that SASCOC, together with the Government, will be working with other stakeholders to put together a flood relief programme to assist the Kwa-Zulu Natal victims of the floods.
More than 400 deaths have been confirmed, while over 7,000 people remain in shelters because of the devastating flooding.
The Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Nocawe Mafu also shared the same sentiments on the issue, “Sport has proved again and again that it is a unifier to restore hope where its lost. I employ you as leadership in sport, to stabilise people to use the power of sport to lift up the communities’ spirits that have been affected due to the KZN floods.”
Mafu also urged the Sports sector to align every programme to the countries’ priorities and encouraged the sector to bid for international events that will improve the economy in different ways. As a competitive country, the sports sector should foster partnerships with different countries so that we learn from them.
The Deputy Minister concluded by wishing SASCOC well as they prepare to deliver Team SA to Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. “As you prepare for the Commonwealth Games, it is important that you engage on contentious topics such as selection criteria. A common position should be found regards to selection of the team and team size that will participate at the Commonwealth Games if the leadership of the sector is objective and agree on what’s best for the country.”
The meeting also discussed other issues which included: the new sports programmes that will be done this year through the SASCOC Commissions, strategic issues that were discussed at the SASCOC Board Strategic session held this year, safeguarding, Update on Birmingham Commonwealth Games preparation and other operational matters.