Get ready to cheer because Team SA is revving up the excitement as we mark the 100-day countdown to the Paris Games! On Wednesday, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and Team SA, along with the entire Olympic family, joined the global celebration.
This milestone holds special significance for Paris as the French capital hosted the Olympics exactly 100 years ago. For our athletes, this moment signifies the culmination of their hard work and dedication as they continue to qualify and gear up for Paris.
As the 100-day countdown to the Olympics commences, our 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.
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.
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.
Thanks to the launch of the Bidvest OPEX (Operation Excellence) programme, our athletes are receiving crucial support for their Olympic preparations.
Despite the shortened Olympic cycle from four years to three due to the Covid-19 pandemic postponing the Tokyo 2020 Games, Team SA remains resilient and focused on delivering a stellar performance in Paris.
President of SASCOC, Mr. 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.
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.
As we gear up for Paris, SASCOC CEO, Nozipho Jafta, 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.