Annual OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games come to Germiston
The games showcase young talent in the province.
As part of celebrating OR Tambo Month in October, the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, in partnership with the metro, will host the third edition of the OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion (ORTSSCG) Games.
Over 1 200 Gauteng youngsters, between the ages of 11 and 19, will compete at this year’s games from October 26 to 27, at Germiston Stadium.
The games, which celebrate the legacy of iconic anti-apartheid leader Oliver Reginald Tambo, have grown to be an important feature for young athletes looking to test their talent with the best in the province.
They come from various backgrounds and areas across Gauteng, including semi-rural parts of the province, townships and suburban areas and schools.
During the last edition, winners got a chance to represent Gauteng and South Africa at the Tri Colour Games in Italy.
This year’s games not only promise to be a tough competition on the field, but also an ideal platform for talent identification, uniting communities and working towards growing and rebuilding Gauteng together.
Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Mbali Hlophe said, “The games bring together the young talent we have in the province.
“The best we have in schools will play against the best we have in community sports structures.
“Some of the talent that’s out there is not being identified because the youngsters are not playing in the leagues or proper structures.”
The build-up to the games starts at ward levels and move on to area games, then municipality games before they culminate in the provincial games.
Seven teams will take part, representing their regions/municipalities, including team Joburg, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, Tshwane and West Rand.
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Also taking part is the School Sport team made up of learners from various Gauteng schools and an Italian team from the Emilia Romagna region.
The teams will compete in six codes, including netball, football, swimming, basketball, rugby and athletics.
Swimming and athletics also have disability categories.
The OR Tambo Soncini Games were born from the close ties between Gauteng and the government of Regio Emilia in Italy, influenced by the late Tambo’s relationship with the former mayor of the area, Roberto Soncini.
Soncini is said to have housed Tambo during his years of exile in Italy.
“We call upon families and the community of Gauteng and Ekurhuleni to support the youngsters as we seek to build champions of the future.
“We encourage parents and community leaders to come in numbers to support the children as their presence provides emotional and tangible support to help them start believing more in their abilities.
“Much of our best talent stop playing sports for various reasons, including lack of support and guidance and loss of interest, or socio-economic conditions at home,” said Hlophe.
The games are organised by the Gauteng provincial government, working together with Gauteng municipalities, the Gauteng Sports Confederation, regional sports confederations and sports federations.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za.
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