Hundreds of government officials from the West Coast District gathered in Saldanha Bay on Friday, 11 October 2019, for a day of friendly competition at the annual Better Together Games (BTG).
The BTG is organised by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport in partnership with Old Mutual, Nedbank and Peninsula Beverages, and sees all locally-based government staff take part in a range of sports codes and recreation activities.
Friday’s event was kicked off by the teams from the various departments marching around the field in the style of the Olympic Games, making the festive atmosphere tangible from the very start.
Everyone then stood for a moment of silence and the singing of the national anthem, before an aerobics session lead by the SA Navy.
Always a fan favourite at any athletics event, the 100 metre sprints was the first event to get going and attracted many participants and a large crowd of cheering spectators.
The other sports and games which took place on the day included a fun run and fun walk, a 10 kilometre cycling race, chess, darts, dominoes, golf, jukskei, three sticks, klawerjas, cricket, soccer, table tennis, tug of war and several other events.
The purpose of the BTG is to promote healthy lifestyles amongst government employees, promote interaction between managers and staff and promote interaction between staff in various spheres and departments of the Western Cape government.
Teams from the Berg River, Saldanha Bay and Matzikama Municipalities, Departments of Social Development, Health, Agriculture, Labour, Correctional Services, Education, Transport and Public Works all participated in the event.
Other teams included the SA Social Security Agency, SA Navy, Airforce Base Langebaanweg, Special Forces and the SA Police Services.
The event at Saldanha Bay Stadium was the fifth of six BTG events taking place this year, with the Overberg, Cape Winelands, Garden Route and Central Karoo already having hosted their Games.
The Cape Metro will be the last of the Western Cape’s regions to host its annual sports day this year, with the event taking place in Stellenbosch on 25 October.
The Western Cape Government works to promote sport participation and regular exercise as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle. BETTER TOGETHER.
Dr Tania Colyn
Head of Communication Service
Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport
Tel: 021 483 9877 / 076 093 4913
E-mail: Tania.Colyn@westerncape.gov.za