SOSA along with the NBA will have a good time Mandela Day on Friday beneath the theme ‘do what you possibly can with what you might have and the place you’re’.
FILE: SOSA along with the NBA will have a good time Mandela Day on 22 July beneath the theme ‘do what you possibly can with what you might have and the place you’re’. Picture: AFP
JOHANNESBURG – “It is for us to adapt our understanding of a common humanity; to learn of the richness of how human life is diverse; to recognise the presence of disability in our human midst as an enrichment of our diversity,” Nelson Mandela mentioned to the Conference for the Disabled, in April 2004.
The late statesman was a champion for the rights of individuals from all walks of life and had a particular place for individuals with disabilities, advocating for his or her inclusion inside society.
“Celebrating Mandela Day holds a special significance for Special Olympics South Africa (SOSA) as the former president was instrumental in bringing Special Olympics to South Africa,” mentioned SOSA CEO Ancilla Smith to Eyewitness News.
#MandelaDay #MandelaDay2022 pic.twitter.com/4vJu6qEEk4
Special Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) July 18, 2022
SOSA along with the NBA will have a good time Mandela Day on Friday beneath the theme “do what you can with what you have and where you are”.
Madiba was an iconic determine in the world of sports activities – he took a eager curiosity in boxing, rugby, and soccer, and performed a pivotal position in inspiring the Springboks to Rugby World Cup glory in 1995.
“Former President Mandela officially opened the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland. The ‘Flame of Hope’, the official Special Olympics torch, was lit by Madiba in his former cell on Robben Island to signal the launch of Special Olympics South Africa. Both SOSA and the NBA share Madiba’s belief in the transformative power of sport,” mentioned Smith.
Special Olympic athletes are proof of “our capacity to overcome hardships and obstacles,” mentioned U2’s Bono, quoting the previous statesman in the course of the opening of the 2003 World Summer Games Opening Ceremony in Ireland.
“The message of inclusion is a cornerstone of the mission of Special Olympics. People living with an intellectual disability not just in South Africa, but globally, face exclusion, discrimination and stigmatisation on a daily basis.
“We, as South Africans, satisfaction ourselves on having one of the progressive constitutions in the world, and Madiba was instrumental in drafting that structure, however we nonetheless have an extended technique to go to make sure that we now have a really inclusive society and that each South African has the identical entry to primary human rights,” mentioned Smith.
For many people, healthcare entry is one thing we take as a right. But for Ijlal Iqbal, and tens of millions of individuals with mental disabilities like him It isnt straightforward.#InclusiveHealth pic.twitter.com/Fr5A1MBx8k
Special Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) April 26, 2022
“Special Olympics is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences. We offer a unique model of an inclusive sport called unified sport. Unified sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding”.
On Friday 22 July, SOSA and the NBA will have a good time Mandela Day, celebrating inclusion by participating learners with and with out mental disabilities in Alexandra Township by means of unified sport, and thru a day of inclusive basketball.
“There are many issues that need to be addressed but what we all need to be working on right now is to create the environment for people with disabilities to lead us on what inclusion should look like for them.”
We get so excited after we see our coaches in motion and our athletes being energetic and having enjoyable.
Our Young Athletes Program (YAP) coaches from the Bojanala district in North West shared these footage of the nice work that they’re doing.#InclusionRevolution pic.twitter.com/aF3iIijzbC
Special Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) February 23, 2022
“Because I saw a lot of myself in our athletes, sports did so much for me as a young kid from a small town, having lost my mom quite early in my life. I wanted to be someone who could be a positive influence in their journey, something that was a far cry for myself growing up,” mentioned SOSA ambassador Sbu Shongwe to Eyewitness News.
“Absolutely! Madiba stood for values we should still live by to this day, that never goes away. It’s not about the man, but the legacy he left behind, that why we even quote him so much,” mentioned Shongwe.
The occasion will even have a good time the long-standing international partnership between Special Olympics International and the NBA.
“Parents are a big part of the Special Olympics network and conduct specific initiatives aimed at supporting parents and encouraging them to become more involved in our organisation. We have family support networks across the country, many of our parents train becoming Special Olympics coaches and volunteer at events and in other areas of the organisation,” mentioned Smith.
In 2019, The International Basketball Foundation (IBF) and Special Olympics introduced their partnership in the course of the FIBA Open in Mies. This cooperation marked their joint dedication to leverage the ability of Special Olympics Unified Sports with the purpose of fostering inclusion on and off the basketball court docket.
“Inclusion means making sure everyone gets an opportunity at doing something, whatever it may be, whatever their disability race, class and orientation,” mentioned Shongwe.
We want to prolong a heartfelt thanks to Special Olympics for supporting SOSA Athlete Leader Mr Jimmy Masina with a Special Olympics Unified Leadership Innovation Grant. pic.twitter.com/8gc8v5pl8J
Special Olympics South Africa (@SO_SouthAfrica) November 23, 2021
The NBA and Special Olympics host an annual NBA Cares Special Olympics Unified Basketball Game previous to the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in the USA. Select Special Olympics basketball gamers face off towards one another alongside NBA Legends and present/former WNBA gamers.
“People are invited to become Ambassadors for Special Olympics South Africa based on their commitment to our athletes and the organisation. Many of our Ambassadors started as supporters of the organisation and impressed us with their passion for creating real change for people living with an intellectual disability in South Africa,” mentioned Smith.
Throughout the yr, the Jr. NBA hosts basketball clinics for Special Olympics athletes, coaches and volunteers all over the world.
“Mostly the interaction with the kids from Alex and other townships, we need sport so much in the times we’re in, in SA. Kids need to be more active, get involved in activities that grow them,” mentioned Shongwe of Friday’s occasion.
Events on the twenty second in Alex will embrace a abilities workshop hosted by NBA coaches and a Unified Celebrity leisure basketball sport.
“Alexandra is where we began piloting Special Olympics basketball in South Africa. It is a fairly new sporting code for us and we are very lucky to have our Special Olympics Coach Harry Nakeng based in Alex. Harry received a scholarship from the Sports Diplomacy Division of the US Department of State and he participated in the Championship Principles Virtual Training programme led by former NBA pro and Head Coach, Sam Vincent. Harry is spearheading the development of basketball in Alex. The NBA has also conducted previous events there and is thrilled to be back in Alexandra to spend a day on the court with the youth,” mentioned Smith.
The anti-apartheid chief, former South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner who died on the age of 95, was as soon as quoted as saying: “Disabled children are equally entitled to an exciting and brilliant future,” in the course of the First Annual South African Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp in Johannesburg on 4 December 1994.
And at present the NBA expertise, Special Olympics Ambassadors and different celebrities be a part of Special Olympics athletes for a day of inclusive basketball to have a good time the icon.
The occasion will likely be hosted on the Three Square Sport Complex in Alexander. Participants will embrace 90 SOSA athletes and Unified companions together with SOSA ambassadors, NBA expertise and different celebrities.