School Sport Indaba: The Western Cape Provincial Government Takes Steps to Revive Ailing School Sport

In a first attempt at reviving dying sport at schools, approximately 500 delegates from the length and breadth of this country will meet at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) over two and half days, to identify problem areas that negatively impact on the development of school sport and come out with strategies to resuscitate sport in schools.

The School Sport Indaba, an initiative of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, is the first reaction by any province to national Minister of Sport and Recreation, Makhenkesi Stofile's inaugural budget speech, in which he stated South Africa needed to go back to basics and re-introduce competitive sport at all schools. It is also an immediate response to a call made by Premier Rasool during his State of the Province Address three weeks ago to the Department to revive sport at schools as a priority.

The Indaba has the following objectives:

• To revive school sport.
• To increase mass participation in school sport.
• To increase competitiveness among learners.
• To effectively utilize school sport as a nursery for talent identification and development.

The delegates include representatives from the national and all provincial departments of Education, Sport and Recreation, national and provincial sport structures, national and provincial school sport structures as well as the corporate sector. Speakers will include Premier Ebrahim Rasool, MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Chris Stali and MEC for Education Cameroon Dugmore. The private sector will also give a presentation on sponsorship opportunities for school sport and strengthening of relations.

All media are invited to attend, details are as follows:

Venue: UWC
Date: 11 March 2005
Time: 15h00-18h00

For further information contact:
Mandla Yeki
082 553 3477