JOHANNESBURG -  Speaking to The Super Saturday  Citizen, Rocco Meiring, the High Performance centre marketing manager at the University of Pretoria, said in order for success at major events it was important for these athletes to receive the support of government and South Africa’s Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

“They need to be given resources, facilities and finance to ensure they are given the best opportunity to prepare for Olympic glory,” he said.
In the past South African swimmers in particular have had to rely on American universities to give them the finishing touch they needed to cement medals at major events such as the Olympic Games.

Meiring was quick to point out that while many consider gold medallists Cameron van der Burgh and Chad le Clos being as  being the first “home-grown” swimmers to win medals, many forget the heroics of Terence Parkin during the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where he slipped under the radar and won silver in the 200 metre breaststroke.
He said it was important to hold on to the athletes who show potential.
 
Before the SA team left for the 2012 Olympic Games Sascoc CEO, Tubby Reddy said since the establishment of the operation excellence programme, in partnership with government they have provided financial aid to athletes whom they consider to be medal hopes. 

Reddy said they had spent over R36 million and a further  R24 million will be spent by the completion of the Games.