THE SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has dangled a huge carrot for top performers at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.
Telkom announced a partnership with Sascoc yesterday to sponsor Team SA at the Games.
The company will cough up R8 million – half of which will be used for incentives. The other half of the money will be used for preparations.
Sascoc and the sports department will also contribute a “reasonable amount” towards incentives.
Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy wants at least 10 medals from four sporting codes – swimming, athletics, rowing and rugby sevens – and confirmed that a team of 230 Mzansi’s athletes will travel to the showpiece.
Reddy said: “We have identified medal potentials in the following codes: rowing, swimming, athletics, rugby sevens – and maybe golf.
“We are looking at eight to 10 medals, realistically.”
Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who also addressed the gathering at the sponsorship announcement, commented on financial concerns ahead of the Durban 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Local Organising Committee team is yet to be announced, which has raised some questions about SA’s ability to host the Commonwealth Games.
Mbalula said: “We are working on that with the National Treasury to try and finalise everything. There is really nothing to comment on until they have signed on the dotted line.
“We are on track. The cabinet has endorsed our proposal and once the financial guarantees are sorted, we will be able to overcome the obstacles.
“We will get clarity before the end of the week.”
