South Africa’s 800m gold medallist Caster Semenya has thanked South Africans for coming out in their numbers to welcome Team South Africa back into the country following the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“I would like to thank South Africans for their support. I love them and I will always do them proud,” said Semenya.
Ordinary South Africans, including school children, turned out in their numbers to welcome their heroes as they arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday.
School children waved the South African flag while others held welcoming placards as they patiently waited for the sportsmen and women to come through the doors of Terminal A at the arrivals section of the airport.
Addressing the crowd that had gathered at the airport, Sports and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula thanked them for turning up in their numbers to show their support for the team.
“Even those who did not win medals, we saw them fighting for their country,” said Mbalula.
The Olympics concluded at the weekend with Team SA clinching two gold medals, six silver medals and two bronze medals.
At the ceremony, Mbalula announced that subsequent to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympics Committee’s (SASCOC) promise earlier in the year to award all gold medallists at the Olympics and Paralympic Games R500 000, additional cash prizes will be given.
Silver medallists will receive R200 000 with R50 000 going to their respective coaches, while bronze medal winners will receive R80 000 with their coaches receiving R20 000.
Mbalula said Van Niekerk would receive an additional R150 000 for setting the world record, while Semenya will receive an additional R100 000. Silver medallists will also get an extra R70 000, while bronze winners will get an additional R50 000 each.
Info: SA Government News Agency
