Athletes shine at Golden Games
On March 21 and 22 athletes over the age of 60 from all around the country took to the track and field at Hoërskool Nelspruit for two days of great sporting action.
Proving that age truly is nothing but a number, athletes over the age of 60 shone bright at the 2024 Golden Games last week, despite some miserable weather.
Held on March 21 and 22, the Golden Games mark a great way for older persons from all around the country to remain active and take part in some of their favourite activities at a competitive level. These range in nature from field items to track items, and include activities such as football, brisk walking, jukskei, pegging and much more.
Mpumalanga were the hosts of this year’s Golden Games competition and elected to hold the event on Hoërskool Nelspruit’s sports fields. Representative teams from each of the country’s nine provinces took part in the two-day competition, and hundreds of people participated and represented their province with great pride.
There was fierce competition in every single item as the ‘golden oldies’ battled it out for gold medals. At the end of the second day, there could only be one triumphant province, though, and this year’s title went to KwaZulu-Natal, while hosts Mpumalanga finished fourth.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga sport climbers qualify for Olympic Games
Some of the participants also touched on how they feel things could improve for the games going forward. Sixty-three-year-old Thabo Molotjwa from the North West Province said he was pleased with what government has been doing for older persons. His only wish was for more sporting equipment and better sporting facilities in their communities.
Eunice Milazi, a 64-year-old from Phalaborwa, highlighted that as one of the older persons who is actively involved in the Golden Games, her wish was that older persons who reach the finals could be rewarded with something beyond trophies and medals.
“This can be in the form of a small amount of cash, like R200, as a motivation for them to continue participating in various sports. I also think that as older persons, if we get more support and publicity through the media, we can be assisted by government to compete with the SADC countries,” she said.
