By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
In 100 days, France’s capital Paris will host the most famous sporting jamboree on the planet: the summer Olympic Games.
This milestone holds special significance for Paris as the French capital hosted the Olympics exactly 100 years ago.
The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Team SA joined the global celebration.
In a statement SASCOC said, “As the 100-day countdown to the Olympics commences, athletes are buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Each passing day brings them closer to realising their dreams on the world stage in Paris.”
“Their dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to excellence are driving them to push harder, train smarter, and strive for greatness. Together, we stand behind them, cheering them on as they embark on this extraordinary journey towards Olympic glory and represent TeamSA with pride and honour.
“The recent African Games in Accra provided a platform for many of our TeamSA athletes to secure Olympic qualifications. Federations like swimming and athletics are currently utilising their National Championships as crucial opportunities to qualify, read the statement.
Last week swimming held their Nationals in Gqeberha and athletics starts their Nationals in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.
With nearly 90 athletes from 13 different sporting codes already meeting Olympic qualifying criteria, the momentum is building as we approach the 2024 Paris Games,” the Olympic body added.
Behind the scenes at SASCOC’s Olympic House headquarters, preparations are in full swing to ensure Team SA is ready to shine in Paris from July 26th to August 11th.
President of SASCOC, Barry Hendricks, emphasised the importance of the 100-day countdown, highlighting the vital support from Bidvest and other sponsors and funders. Gratitude was extended to Planet Fitness, Mr Price Sport, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the NLC, and the International Olympic Committee’s TOP X partners.
Hendricks expressed confidence in delivering the strongest Team SA squad and called for unwavering support from the media and the public to rally behind our athletes and proudly fly the country’s flag high in July.
Sports qualifying or with representative qualification for Paris 2024 from Team SA include athletics, sport climbing, cycling (road and MTB), canoeing, diving, equestrian, gymnastics, hockey (men and women), rowing, rugby Sevens women (rugby men are still to qualify by June), surfing, swimming, and wrestling.