On Saturday, 5 October 2019, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) in partnership with the Overberg Sport Council hosted the Olympic Day at the Villiersdorp Sports Ground.
The Olympic Day is aligned to the International Olympic Commitee’s (IOC’s) global youth strategy of maintaining people’s interest in sport, encouraging them to practise sport and promoting the Olympic values – Excellence, Friendship and Respect.
A group of 313 learners from five schools that attended the Olympic Roadshows in the Overberg District got the opportunity to experience the following sport codes: Aerobics, Archery, Boxing, Chess, Equestrian, Fishing, NSRI, Rugby and Tug of War. The schools involved were Kosie de Wet Primary (Villiersdorp), Lukhayno Primary (Hermanus), Protea Primary (Bredarsdorp), Swartberg Primary (Caledon) and VRT Pitt Primary (Swellendam).
The Chairperson of the Overberg Sport Council, Rudulph Johannes officially welcomed the learners and federations to the Olympic Day. The Olympic Oath was read by Chris Odenaal of South African Tug of War. He lit the Olympic flame to get the games under way. The Mayor of Overberg District Municipality, Councillor Lamprecht gave an introduction and the vote of thanks was done by the Director of Sport Promotion (DCAS), Thabo Tutu. The final part of the programme was the handing over of the Olympic Flame by Jackie Nicholls. She handed the flame on to Desmond Speelman, Chairman of the Eden Sport Council. The Eden District will be hosting the Olympic Day in 2020.
The learners participated in a Cross Country Fun Run before interacting with the various sport federations that were in attendance.
Let us continue supporting the youth in their endeavors to combat social ills through sport and recreation in the Western Cape, BETTER TOGETHER.