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Date
: 06/09/2004
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Farewell dinner for SA Paralympic team
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA ON THE OCCASION OF THE
FAREWELL DINNER FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN PARALYMPIC TEAM, Presidential
Guesthouse, Pretoria, 6 September 2004
Honourable Minister of Sport and Recreation, the Reverend
Makhenkesi Stofile,
Honourable Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya,
Our Esteemed Paralympic Team and the Executive of Paralympics
SA,
Mr. Peter Goldhawk, President of Disabled Sport South Africa,
Ms Alison Burchell, Chef de Mission of the team, Members of the
business community and sponsors,
Distinguished Guests,
It feels me with great pride to host this farewell dinner for our
Paralympic Team, as they head for Athens on Thursday.
It is a pride that I am sure extends to the rest of South Africa,
as our Paralympic team has over the years certainly left an
indelible mark in this global contest.
The competition has come a long way since the first Games for
Athletes with Disability, which were held in 1948 in England.
Athens 2004 is the 4th Paralympics that South Africa will
participate in, since our re-entry into the international sports
arena. We successfully took part in the Games in Barcelona in 1992,
Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000.
But importantly, in this short space of time, our Paralympic Team
has excelled beyond belief.
In the last games in Sydney 2000 alone, you brought back home an
incredible 38 medals, with 13 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals.
I must therefore warn you that as a result of your excellent
performance in the last Olympics, the expectations are very
high.
We would like to once again rally the whole of South Africa behind
this team, and as always, we know that the nation will back you one
hundred percent, and fly the flag high as you battle with the best
in Athens.
Indeed this year, you are up against stiff competition. Over 4 000
athletes from 145 nations will participate in 19 Paralympic sport
disciplines with more than 2000 media capturing every memorable
moment. In the glare of international eyes, our team will once
again shine.
You have been chosen as ambassadors of this nation in Athens, and
it is my view that to pass the test to represent your country is an
outstanding achievement on its own. The question of winning in
individual disciplines is a cherry on top, and a medal is a bonus!
Therefore you are all winners already in our eyes. We just urge you
to strive to bring back lots of medals so that we can celebrate in
true South African style!
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me emphasise that sports has since 1994,
emerged as perhaps the singular unifying factor that brings
together all citizens regardless of colour, background, class,
gender and creed behind one banner, the South African flag.
We are certain that our Paralympic Team will further honour our
rich sporting tradition, and bring together the whole nation as
they have always done.
Let me also express our gratitude for the financial and other
material support that the team has received from the business
community. What you have done is a proudly South African act.
Ladies and gentlemen I also have the honour tonight to announce the
name of the athlete who will lead the team and carry the national
flag in Athens. It will be our tennis star, Rosabelle Riese! We
wish her all the best.
Finally, in the spirit of the 2004 Paralympic Games, I would like
to say to the athletes; Pursue all your dreams; find strength in
yourself to do your best; be inspired and inspire those around you,
and celebrate all the achievements as you will have earned every
inch of success you gain.
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