The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) has moved to offer various sports organisations much-needed relief, as many of them plot a return to competition.
Support for Western Cape sport
For the best part of the national lockdown, which began in late March, many sports bodies have not been able to generate revenue. They have been granted a total of R6 356 450, which will go towards the hosting of events, competition and educational activities.
Dr Lyndon Bouah, chief director for Sport and Recreation in the province, was present at the handover.
“With the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming up next year, many of our national athletes reside in the Western Cape and they need to be supported,” he said.
“Therefore, we need to have ad hoc funding available to support professional athletes and federations to host their events to increase the provincial talent pool. Our communities also need role models to whom they can aspire. They need to know that athletes coming from the streets of the Western Cape have the ability to go to the World Championships or Olympic Games.”
Dr Lyndon Bouah
Financial knock
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais said the sports sector has taken a serious knock due to months of inactivity.
“Approximately 30 events across the province have been cancelled, inclusive of conditional grants and federation funded events,” he said.
“Provincial major sporting events, which boost our local economies have also been severely impacted as events such as the Two Oceans Marathon and now also the Cape Town HSBC Sevens Tournament to name a few, have had to be cancelled. Provincial Trials for the Winter Games, Indigenous Games, Golden Games and leagues & festival support for Club Development have also been adversely impacted as these events will also not be taking place this year as scheduled.
“However, despite it all, over the last months we have been through so much. We have changed the way we live, how we say hello and even how we sport and practice recreation.
“As many restrictions have now been relaxed and as we head into the recovery phase, we can now safely move forward in the Western Cape and get to work as the task ahead of us is great, but together, we will overcome the many challenges with which we are now faced, as we have time and again in this sector”.
Anroux Marais
Here is how much was allocated to each district;
