SAM: KNOW NATIONAL ANTHEM
Sascoc boss also tells Team SA to draw inspiration from Mbeki’s words
IN A country still bedevilled by transformation issues in sport, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) says it expects all Rio-bound athletes to know the national anthem.
Sascoc president Gideon Sam said this would “reinforce the love the athletes have for the country”.
He also urged the Olympians to draw inspiration from former statesman Thabo Mbeki’s “I am an African” speech. “If the poem doesn’t inspire you, nothing will,” Sam told athletes at the Team SA farewell banquet in Kempton Park on Friday.
“We expect everyone in the team to know the anthem at Team SA setup because we are now at a stage where we are trying to learn the African Union anthem,” Sam said afterwards.
“It cannot only be our rugby players who are expected to sing the national anthem. All of us must sing the anthem. It reinforces the love the athletes have for the country.
“I have also asked management teams not to leave the [SA] flags behind. We want at least a flag at every event when a South African athlete will be competing in Rio.”
Earlier this year, the report by the Eminent Persons Group on transformation in sport damned four federations because of their failure to meet their transformation targets.
Subsequently, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula revoked the privileges of Athletics SA, Cricket SA, Netball SA and the SA Rugby Union to host or bid for any major international events in the country.
Sam reiterated that a 10-medal haul “is doable” at the Rio games.
The team has Caster Semenya (athletics), Chad le Clos, Cameron van der Burgh (both swimmers), Bridgitte Hartley (canoeing) and the rowing group of medallists from the London Games four years go.