West Coast Better Together Games kick off in a healthy spirit of competition | Western Cape Government

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West Coast Better Together Games kick off in a healthy spirit of competition

11 October 2016

On Friday, 7 October, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with Saldanha Bay Municipality hosted the West Coast Better Together Games in Vredenburg. The annual event was supported by Old Mutual, Nedbank and Peninsula Beverages.

The Better Together Games coincided with the 2016 National Recreation Day, an initiative of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA). National Recreation Day is held on the first Friday of October each year in an effort to encourage all South Africans to get involved in some sort of recreational activity. 

Twenty-two teams from local, provincial and national government in the West Coast Region participated in the games. The event kicked off with the traditional march-past, after which the 10 km cycle, 6 km run and 2.5 km walk events got underway. The various sporting codes on the day included netball, mini cricket, touch rugby,  five-a-side soccer, dominoes, darts, table tennis, volleyball, and the indigenous game, jukskei.

During the opening ceremony, participants were addressed by Saldanha Bay Municipality’s executive mayor, Councillor Marius Koen, who welcomed the eager participants to the games. “Good sportsmanship is one of the most important lessons that we can learn from competition. Our success in sport is learning to play with a positive attitude whether we win or lose. I encourage you all to enjoy the day and best of luck with your participation in the various sport codes,” said Councillor Koen.

DCAS Deputy Director, Ronald Gabriel, delivered the keynote address. “Our focus in the Western Cape is to be active, to be healthy and to promote wellness. Today is National Recreation Day and I would like to encourage you to become involved in any recreational or leisure activity to relax and refresh yourselves in order to improve your health and well-being,” said Gabriel, who also thanked organisers and the Saldanha Bay Municipality for support in making the Better Together Games possible.

The remainder of the 2016 Better Together Games will take place as follows:

  • Cape Winelands/Overberg on 14 October at the Boland Park Stadium in Worcester
  • Cape Town Metropole on 4 November at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Bellville

These events encourage a healthier lifestyle and promote a healthy team spirit. DCAS encourages all staff to participate in these initiatives to achieve a healthier and more active province, BETTER TOGETHER.  

Media Enquiries: 

Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za