London 2012: South Africa unveil team Ambassadors at 100 days-to-go Olympic launch

SA Athletes / Photo Credit: Wessel OOSTHUIZEN / South African Sports Picture Agency

The South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) on Wednesday hosted the celebration of the important 100 days-to-go landmark for the much anticipated 2012 Olympics Games in London.

Broadcast live exclusively on SABC 2′s Morning Live television programme, the 100 days extravaganza took place at Golf Reef City, Johannesburg early on Wednesday morning, and featured a most apt theme of ‘Going for Gold’ with award-winning journalist turned world renowned commentator Duane Dell’oca in charge of the proceeding as the MC.

Among the dignitaries who joined in the celebrations were the Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation, Mr Gert Oosthuizen; Ms Hajera Kajee and Mr Les Williams, respectively first and second Vice-Presidents of SASCOC; SASCOC Chief Executive Officer, Tubby Reddy as well as Presidents from various National Federations.

Sporting hopefuls for the London 2012 Olympic Games, including track and field athletes and members of the national men’s hockey team, who will be leaving for their Olympic Qualifier tournament in Japan on Thursday, were also in attendance.

Wednesday’s celebration saw Cecil Africa (Springbok Sevens star), former Bafana Bafana captain and now retired football legend Lucas Radebe, golf sensation Ernie Els, retired international cricket ace Makhaya Ntini and Cynthia Tshaka – one of the first Laureus Ambassadors in South Africa as well as the founder of the Sports Hero’s walk against HIV/Aids – were unveiled as Team South Africa Ambassadors.

“The role of the Team SA Ambassador is to inspire and mentor the Team SA athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, while encouraging young and old people worldwide to become more active in sport”, said Reddy .

Already a star in his own right, the recently announced Team SA mascot, Chukuru, once again showed why he is the fans’ favourite, especially when he has his dancing boots on. Members of the public recently voted for the rhino-like mascot as the most popular mascot for Team SA going forward to all multi-coded sports events.

Following Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula’s Magnificent Friday initiative before the Soccer, Cricket and Rugby World Cups, where South Africans were encouraged to wear green and gold on Fridays, SASCOC also launched a supporter’s shirt for Team SA Fridays.

Predominately green, the (supporters) shirt will be available in selected stores around the country, ahead of the regular staging of Team SA Fridays which kick off this weekend and are sure to drum up more popular support for Team SA at the world’s biggest global sports event.

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