City to play host for SA games
Monday marked the opening of the South African Age Group Games for intellectually impaired people.
POLOKWANE – Monday marked the opening of the South African Age Group Games for intellectually impaired people.
The championships will take place in Polokwane and Seshego from September 15 to 19, where eight of the nine South African provinces will take part.
Limpopo is represented by more than 205 learners in various sporting codes such as athletics, cross country, basketball, futsal and netball. Futsal is a variant of football that is played on a small field and is mainly played indoors.
On Monday and Tuesday, learners participated in athletics at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, while the cross country was held at the Polokwane Show Grounds on Wednesday. Basketball and netball will be played from today (Thursday) until Friday at the Seshego basketball and netball courts, while futsal will be played at the Ngoako Ramatlhodi Indoor Sports Complex.
Learners will be selected in futsal and athletics to form a national team that will re-present the country at the international games next year.
Albert Warnick, the South African Sport Association for Intellectually Impaired (SASAII) public relations officer, said intellectually impaired learners enjoyed sport more than anything hence the community should support them.
“We all know that these kinds of learners cannot become intellectuals, hence sport and handiworks can make them earn a decent living. Sport is the vehicle for people with intellectually impairment,” said Warnick.
SASAII national president, Lizzie Vogel said the first day of the championships was well attended. “Eight provinces out of the nine prepared thoroughly for these games and I am sure they will reap the rewards at the end. Intellectually impaired people value sport and as a result sports departments should assist them,” said Vogel.
