Boland staff give it their all at the Better Together Games.

Thousands of staff from across the Boland region gathered at Boland Park Sports Stadium in Worcester for the Boland Regional Better Together Games on Friday, 10 October.

Staff representing various Western Cape Government Departments, Correctional Services, the South African Police Service, Overstrand, Drakenstein and Breede Valley Local Municipalities gave it their all during the games. Staff participated in a number of sporting codes including a big walk, soccer, touch rugby, netball and tug-of-war, which was the most popular team sport of the day.

Sponsors Nedbank and Old Mutual provided staff with their product information and also handed out freebies. Staff even had an opportunity to be entered into a lucky draw to win a tablet at the end of the day. Refreshments after the run and big walk were supplied by Peninsula Beverages.

Advocate Lyndon Boauh, Chief Director of Sport and Recreation from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) addressed the crowd during the opening ceremony, informing them that the games may be recreational in nature but at the same time it is very competitive as winning teams may have an opportunity to participate in the Corporate Games.“ Play hard so we can ensure we can take you to the corporate games” said Adv. Boauh.

Gerrit Matthyse, Municipal Manager of the Breede Valley Municipality extended a warm welcome to all the participants and supporters to Worcester. “May sport be the ultimate victor of the day” he said during his address.

Major Sayste Pietersen from the South African Police participated in the tug-of-war and his team won the mixed team category. “Participating in the Better Together Games  is a good opportunity for us because we get to interact with our counterparts at other government departments, but most importantly, we can have fun and do our best”, he said.

This is the second in a series of four Better Together Games that will take place in October. The next Better Together Games will take place on Friday, 17 October at the Vredenburg Sports Complex in Vredenburg.