Date: 28/01/05
Source: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
Title: Oosthuizen: Boxing Awards
Speech by Deputy Minister of Sport & Recreation South Africa, Mr Gert Oosthuizen, at the Boxing Awards
28 January 2005
Programme Director Chairman of the Board of Boxing South Africa (BSA), Mr Mthobi Tyamzashe Members of the Board of BSA General Secretary of the British Board of Control, Simon Block Boxing Officials Boxers Members of the Media Award Winners Boxing Enthusiasts Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour to officiate, for the first time during my tenure ship, at this prestigious event on the annual calendar of BSA. I am proud to be part of this awards evening of an organisation that can be said to be actively striving to become truly representative of all the people of South Africa. Boxing is one of a very small number of sports that, in terms of representivity, is well on its way toward reflecting our rainbow nation. Your organisation presents a model of action that other sports federations would do well to emulate. I look forward to the day when more young people from across our nation, African, White, Coloured and Indian will flock to your sports in large numbers. There are many latent Gerrie Coetzees, Bramley Witboois and Baby Jake Mtlalas; just waiting to be discovered in our communities.
Allow me first of all to convey the sincere apology of Minister Makhenkesi Stofile for his inability to be present here this evening. He, unfortunately, has another engagement that prevents him from attending. He has asked me, as I am sure he conveyed to you during your meeting with him earlier today as well, to relay to you his best wishes for a successful Awards evening and convention over the weekend. More specifically, he wanted me to express his warm wishes to the award winners and, to all participants in the sport. Unfortunately, not everybody can be an award winner. There can always only be one champion. The rest, the majority, are challengers but without challengers there can be no champions. He also asked me to remind you of the Olympic dictum that proffers that “winning is not everything; rather, having fought to the best of one’s ability is much more important”.
Of course, champions come and go. Perseverance and constantly putting up a good fight is all that matters in the strife to also become a champion. I implore you all, to keep at it. It is only hard work that will allow you to reap the rewards associated with success.
The night belongs to the award winners and I have no intention to take that away from them. I do believe, however, that credit must also be given to those who have made it possible for the sport of boxing to flourish in our country. Since assuming my tenureship in the portfolio of sport and recreation in the national government, I have been hard-pressed to familiarise myself with my new environment. It has taken many hours of intensive reading and understanding but I believe that I am getting to grips with my mandate. Allow me to say that in studying the stakeholders in sport and recreation I have been particularly intrigued with the sport of boxing.
I have already alluded to the level of representivity in boxing but other features of your sport fascinated me as well. Firstly, boxing is unique to the extent that there is an Act of Parliament and Regulations that control the activity. There are separate structures for the amateur and professional versions of the sport. Women’s boxing sounds interesting, and the history of the sport that is characterised by a series of crises, amongst other features, intrigued me. It is in latter regard, that I would like to salute the Board of BSA for the sterling work that they have done, mostly under difficult circumstances, to turn the sport around. That is a special and very important accomplishment that is particularly heart-warming for me to the extent that it rekindled and preserved a sport that always was, and still is community based and close to the hearts of the majority of our people.
I read BSA’s latest annual report with great interest. I was amazed, but thoroughly proud to learn that we have no fewer that 7 world champions in South Africa. This is an outstanding achievement, one that we can all be justly proud of. As South Africans we are often disgruntled about the failures of our teams in high profile, high exposure sports but we fail to recognise our successes in sports such as professional boxing. BSA must be congratulated for creating the environment in which our boxers are able to excel to the extent to which having seven world champions must attest.
BSA must be congratulated for what they have achieved over a short period of time in terms of bringing stability to the sport. I know that the new Board literally had to pick up the pieces after they were appointed. We must admit that they have accomplished a lot since then.
As they reach the end of their term, I am of the opinion that they can really look back with pride at a job well done. Phase one that of turning around and stabilising the sport has been accomplished with flying colours! For this I believe that the Chairperson and his Board deserves a round of applause.
I have come to understand why there was a need to regulate the sport of professional boxing through an Act of Parliament – the nature of the sport required an intervention to protect boxers, in particular, from exploitation and exposure to physical harm, amongst others. I am impressed with the extent to which the Board has endeavoured to place the interest of the athlete as their first priority. They have done this, and are still busy doing so, by focussing on the quality of the management of the organisation through providing proper empowerment opportunities for officials, obtaining their commitment to the sport by ensuring that they are properly looked after. By creating a Boxing Academy; by recognising the achievements of boxers through this annual event and the awarding of national colours; by ensuring proper relations between boxers, managers and promoters; enhancing the life-skills of boxers including mentorship in how to manage their personal finances; by negotiating insurance and medical aid benefits, and as numerous other benefits all aimed at improving the circumstances of our athletes. This must surely be the epitome of a caring organisation. It represents a second aspect of BSA’s organisational model that others would do well to emulate. Congratulations, once again, on a fine achievement.
BSA would be the first to admit that their organisation is not perfect. They say so in their Annual Report in which they also commit themselves to rectify their shortcomings in the second phase of their development which they are now entering.
Of course, some of the shortcomings that they identify are characteristic of most, if not all organisations that emerge from turn-around processes. They are not unique to boxing. I would like to express my confidence in their ability to consolidate the turn-around, to eradicate all the other challenges, and to make BSA one of the best run, most lucrative sports organisations in our country. I trust that as the term of this first Board comes to an end, many serving members will avail themselves for a further term to ensure that that dream is actualised.
Ladies and gentlemen, a sport can never survive without at least three other very important ingredients, namely, sponsors, the media and supporters. I would like to extend a word of gratitude to the sponsors for their commitment to the sport. Vodacom, Old Buck, SABC Sport and Supersport, your support is very much appreciated.
I am happy that as government we are able to chip in as well. It is our primary objective to ensure that the masses of our people are provided access to, and opportunities in sport. Given boxing’s community profile, we believe that BSA and SANABO, boxing’s amateur wing, are making great strides toward the achievement of those government objectives. W has always contended that government alone cannot ensure access and opportunities for all our people. We need the support of the private sector and are, therefore, extremely appreciative of your involvement. We know that sponsorship is not philanthropy; you need returns on your investment. I am confident, that boxing as a sport will deliver those dividends as it grows in stature. As we develop more world champions, heroes and role models, more and more young people will be attracted to the ranks as boxers and spectators.
Without the media, nobody will know about the sport, heroes will not be created, and role models will not emerge. We need heroes and role models in our society. Our youth face huge challenges in an uncompromising, modern world and must be guided to become useful and productive citizens. The media is critical in this regard and I would like to applaud them for what I perceive to be a change in the way in which they report on boxing. Whereas in the past the focus was almost entirely on controversy, conflict and problems in the sport, it has now shifted more toward the accomplishments of our boxers. Of course the focus has not changed entirely, but I think we are heading in the right direction. The successes of BSA and of our boxers have a lot to do with that change. I implore the media to pursue the new focus. It contributes toward building a better South Africa.
We are not asking you to be uncritical; on the contrary, BSA must be kept on its toes constantly. Be constructive in your criticism, and always ensure that your slant promotes the sport, participation in it, and the welfare of the country’s young people. I thank you for the role that you play and thank you for being here tonight.
No sport survives without spectators. I know that boxing enjoys a loyal following. I marvel at the passion with which some people discuss the outcomes of boxing matches, reminisce about past fights and speculate about bouts and champions in the making. Of course, it is reflective of a culture, one that is thoroughly engraved in large sections of our society.
We must thank our spectators for their loyal support and I encourage BSA to endeavour also to enhance their “participation” in the sport. I am aware of how you constantly strive to make tournaments more attractive, constantly striving to give the paying public better “bang for their buck”. Keep up the good work.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not going to prolong your agony for much longer. I know you are waiting to get on with celebrating the achievements of the award winners rather than listen to drawn out speeches. In conclusion, once again our congratulations to the award winners on their achievements. I want to remind them of the responsibilities that go along with being elevated to their new status. You are the ones to which young boxers and young South Africans in general, will look to for leadership. Take up that role with humility, with dignity, and a conviction toward ensuring a better life for all the people, especially the young ones, of our country. And, good luck in your careers ahead.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Sport & Recreation South Africa
28 January 2005
Source: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
Title: Oosthuizen: Boxing Awards
Speech by Deputy Minister of Sport & Recreation South Africa, Mr Gert Oosthuizen, at the Boxing Awards
28 January 2005
Programme Director Chairman of the Board of Boxing South Africa (BSA), Mr Mthobi Tyamzashe Members of the Board of BSA General Secretary of the British Board of Control, Simon Block Boxing Officials Boxers Members of the Media Award Winners Boxing Enthusiasts Ladies and Gentlemen
It is an honour to officiate, for the first time during my tenure ship, at this prestigious event on the annual calendar of BSA. I am proud to be part of this awards evening of an organisation that can be said to be actively striving to become truly representative of all the people of South Africa. Boxing is one of a very small number of sports that, in terms of representivity, is well on its way toward reflecting our rainbow nation. Your organisation presents a model of action that other sports federations would do well to emulate. I look forward to the day when more young people from across our nation, African, White, Coloured and Indian will flock to your sports in large numbers. There are many latent Gerrie Coetzees, Bramley Witboois and Baby Jake Mtlalas; just waiting to be discovered in our communities.
Allow me first of all to convey the sincere apology of Minister Makhenkesi Stofile for his inability to be present here this evening. He, unfortunately, has another engagement that prevents him from attending. He has asked me, as I am sure he conveyed to you during your meeting with him earlier today as well, to relay to you his best wishes for a successful Awards evening and convention over the weekend. More specifically, he wanted me to express his warm wishes to the award winners and, to all participants in the sport. Unfortunately, not everybody can be an award winner. There can always only be one champion. The rest, the majority, are challengers but without challengers there can be no champions. He also asked me to remind you of the Olympic dictum that proffers that “winning is not everything; rather, having fought to the best of one’s ability is much more important”.
Of course, champions come and go. Perseverance and constantly putting up a good fight is all that matters in the strife to also become a champion. I implore you all, to keep at it. It is only hard work that will allow you to reap the rewards associated with success.
The night belongs to the award winners and I have no intention to take that away from them. I do believe, however, that credit must also be given to those who have made it possible for the sport of boxing to flourish in our country. Since assuming my tenureship in the portfolio of sport and recreation in the national government, I have been hard-pressed to familiarise myself with my new environment. It has taken many hours of intensive reading and understanding but I believe that I am getting to grips with my mandate. Allow me to say that in studying the stakeholders in sport and recreation I have been particularly intrigued with the sport of boxing.
I have already alluded to the level of representivity in boxing but other features of your sport fascinated me as well. Firstly, boxing is unique to the extent that there is an Act of Parliament and Regulations that control the activity. There are separate structures for the amateur and professional versions of the sport. Women’s boxing sounds interesting, and the history of the sport that is characterised by a series of crises, amongst other features, intrigued me. It is in latter regard, that I would like to salute the Board of BSA for the sterling work that they have done, mostly under difficult circumstances, to turn the sport around. That is a special and very important accomplishment that is particularly heart-warming for me to the extent that it rekindled and preserved a sport that always was, and still is community based and close to the hearts of the majority of our people.
I read BSA’s latest annual report with great interest. I was amazed, but thoroughly proud to learn that we have no fewer that 7 world champions in South Africa. This is an outstanding achievement, one that we can all be justly proud of. As South Africans we are often disgruntled about the failures of our teams in high profile, high exposure sports but we fail to recognise our successes in sports such as professional boxing. BSA must be congratulated for creating the environment in which our boxers are able to excel to the extent to which having seven world champions must attest.
BSA must be congratulated for what they have achieved over a short period of time in terms of bringing stability to the sport. I know that the new Board literally had to pick up the pieces after they were appointed. We must admit that they have accomplished a lot since then.
As they reach the end of their term, I am of the opinion that they can really look back with pride at a job well done. Phase one that of turning around and stabilising the sport has been accomplished with flying colours! For this I believe that the Chairperson and his Board deserves a round of applause.
I have come to understand why there was a need to regulate the sport of professional boxing through an Act of Parliament – the nature of the sport required an intervention to protect boxers, in particular, from exploitation and exposure to physical harm, amongst others. I am impressed with the extent to which the Board has endeavoured to place the interest of the athlete as their first priority. They have done this, and are still busy doing so, by focussing on the quality of the management of the organisation through providing proper empowerment opportunities for officials, obtaining their commitment to the sport by ensuring that they are properly looked after. By creating a Boxing Academy; by recognising the achievements of boxers through this annual event and the awarding of national colours; by ensuring proper relations between boxers, managers and promoters; enhancing the life-skills of boxers including mentorship in how to manage their personal finances; by negotiating insurance and medical aid benefits, and as numerous other benefits all aimed at improving the circumstances of our athletes. This must surely be the epitome of a caring organisation. It represents a second aspect of BSA’s organisational model that others would do well to emulate. Congratulations, once again, on a fine achievement.
BSA would be the first to admit that their organisation is not perfect. They say so in their Annual Report in which they also commit themselves to rectify their shortcomings in the second phase of their development which they are now entering.
Of course, some of the shortcomings that they identify are characteristic of most, if not all organisations that emerge from turn-around processes. They are not unique to boxing. I would like to express my confidence in their ability to consolidate the turn-around, to eradicate all the other challenges, and to make BSA one of the best run, most lucrative sports organisations in our country. I trust that as the term of this first Board comes to an end, many serving members will avail themselves for a further term to ensure that that dream is actualised.
Ladies and gentlemen, a sport can never survive without at least three other very important ingredients, namely, sponsors, the media and supporters. I would like to extend a word of gratitude to the sponsors for their commitment to the sport. Vodacom, Old Buck, SABC Sport and Supersport, your support is very much appreciated.
I am happy that as government we are able to chip in as well. It is our primary objective to ensure that the masses of our people are provided access to, and opportunities in sport. Given boxing’s community profile, we believe that BSA and SANABO, boxing’s amateur wing, are making great strides toward the achievement of those government objectives. W has always contended that government alone cannot ensure access and opportunities for all our people. We need the support of the private sector and are, therefore, extremely appreciative of your involvement. We know that sponsorship is not philanthropy; you need returns on your investment. I am confident, that boxing as a sport will deliver those dividends as it grows in stature. As we develop more world champions, heroes and role models, more and more young people will be attracted to the ranks as boxers and spectators.
Without the media, nobody will know about the sport, heroes will not be created, and role models will not emerge. We need heroes and role models in our society. Our youth face huge challenges in an uncompromising, modern world and must be guided to become useful and productive citizens. The media is critical in this regard and I would like to applaud them for what I perceive to be a change in the way in which they report on boxing. Whereas in the past the focus was almost entirely on controversy, conflict and problems in the sport, it has now shifted more toward the accomplishments of our boxers. Of course the focus has not changed entirely, but I think we are heading in the right direction. The successes of BSA and of our boxers have a lot to do with that change. I implore the media to pursue the new focus. It contributes toward building a better South Africa.
We are not asking you to be uncritical; on the contrary, BSA must be kept on its toes constantly. Be constructive in your criticism, and always ensure that your slant promotes the sport, participation in it, and the welfare of the country’s young people. I thank you for the role that you play and thank you for being here tonight.
No sport survives without spectators. I know that boxing enjoys a loyal following. I marvel at the passion with which some people discuss the outcomes of boxing matches, reminisce about past fights and speculate about bouts and champions in the making. Of course, it is reflective of a culture, one that is thoroughly engraved in large sections of our society.
We must thank our spectators for their loyal support and I encourage BSA to endeavour also to enhance their “participation” in the sport. I am aware of how you constantly strive to make tournaments more attractive, constantly striving to give the paying public better “bang for their buck”. Keep up the good work.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am not going to prolong your agony for much longer. I know you are waiting to get on with celebrating the achievements of the award winners rather than listen to drawn out speeches. In conclusion, once again our congratulations to the award winners on their achievements. I want to remind them of the responsibilities that go along with being elevated to their new status. You are the ones to which young boxers and young South Africans in general, will look to for leadership. Take up that role with humility, with dignity, and a conviction toward ensuring a better life for all the people, especially the young ones, of our country. And, good luck in your careers ahead.
I thank you.
Issued by: Ministry of Sport & Recreation South Africa
28 January 2005
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