Games event brings kids together
THE FIFTH Cape Town Games took place this past weekend with nearly 700 young participants between 12-17 taking part in a variety of sporting activities, including netball, 4-a-side soccer, pool and table tennis.
The event was hosted by the City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department at the Sarepta Sports and Recreation Centre in Kuils River on Saturday and included a mix of games and local sports.
Sporting codes such as table tennis, 4-a-side soccer, pool, dominoes, chess, marabaraba, board games, and
were all played in a competition format.
Participants initially underwent a series of competitions, starting at the local community level, which involved more than 20 000 participants across the city before being whittled down.
“The idea behind the Cape Town Games is to provide a platform for people with a range of interests to develop their abilities and compete at a city-wide level, whether it is in board games, traditional games, pool, or table-tennis.
“Not everyone wants to put on a uniform and kick a ball across a goal line,” said the Mayco member for Safety, Security and Social Services, JP Smith.
“Events such as these empower our youth and promote higher self-esteem.
“The physical benefits for our participants include maintaining a healthy body, preventing chronic diseases and learning the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Smith also mentioned that sports also has the ability to connect people and cuts across social, religious and economic barriers, saying it is one of the most significant peace-keeping tools in any community.
“One of the priorities of the City’s Organisational Development and Transformation Plan is to build integrated communities.