CONTENTS SASCOC Board Members 1 Message from SASCOC President 5 CEO’s Summary of Activities 7 Activity Report 9 High Performance Department 9 i. Team Preparation 9 ii. Alignment of the National Academies System 12 iii. Boxing Support Special Programme 13 iv. Olympic Solidarity 14 v. London 2012 Olympic Games Report 16 vi. London 2012 Paralympic Games Report 23 vii. Zone VI Games 2012 33 viii. SASCOC Bursary Scheme 34 ix. Coaches Development 35 Operation and National Federations Support 44 i. General Assembly Meeting 44 ii. Presidents Council 46 iii. Bidding and Hosting 47 iv. Dispute Resolutions 48 v. Membership 50 vi. National Colours 50 vii. SA Sports Awards 53 viii. Olympic Day 54 ix. Jack Cheetham and Letsema Awards 54 x. Provincial Sports Confederations 55 xi. Road Shows 56 xii. Events: Mark 500 Days 57 xiii. Sports Hero’s Walk 58 xiv. NOC Exchange Programme 58 xv. Staff Development 59 PR and Media 59 International Conferences and/or Seminars 64 Finance Department 67 Acknowledgements 150 SOUTH SOUTH AAFFRICRAICA SASCOC Board 11 2 President 1st Vice President Gideon Sam Hajera Kajee 2nd Vice President IOC Executive Board Member Les Williams Sam Ramsamy Board Member Board Member Mark Alexander Kobus Marais Board Member Board Member Mubarak Motlatsi Mahomed Keikabile 11 2 Board Member Board Jace Naidoo Merrill King Board Member Board Member Jerry Temba Hlasho Segwaba Secretary General / CEO Board Member Tubby Reddy Emile Smith 3 4 SOUTH AFRSIOCUTAH AFRICA SASCOC Annual Report 3 4 Message from SASCOC President Mr Gideon Sam The period under review was undoubtedly the busiest and most stressful period during the time I have been privileged to act as SASCOC President. Having said that, it was also one of the most blessed and rewarding times as the Olympics and Paralympics in London, England represented the pinnacle of our quadrennial’s work at Olympic House. The year started off like a house on fire and there was one buzzword doing the rounds – and that was ‘London’. Things were frantic both at Olympic House and also in the broader scheme of things in the Olympic sports scene. Many athletes were frantically putting in last-minute performances to make it to London. Sadly, some learnt the hard way that preparations for an Olympic or Paralympic Games take time. The saying goes that Rome wasn’t build in a day but it’s also true that you don’t qualify for the Olympics/Paralympics in a day! As is the case after every Olympic/Paralympi cycle, this time round we have learnt yet more valuable lessons as we switch focus from London 2012 to Rio 2016. We at SASCOC hope to guide our athletes through more professional preparations and also to heed closely the requirements set down by the various sporting bodies. We firmly believe that during this quadrennial there will be even more structures in place throughout the preparation route to aid our athletes in the fulfilling of their Olympic ambitions. When I originally went on record as saying that we were gunning for “12 in 2012” I took flak from many quarters but I still don’t think I was being too ambitious. In my view, those six medals we brought home from London was a good reflection both on the talent we have within our ranks and also what big strides our opposition make between each Olympic Games. So while I think our six-medal haul was fine under the circumstances I think we have still to see the best from a South African team at the Olympics. We saw exactly what is required to compete with the very best in the world and we know what we are up against in Rio. The choices for us are very clear, we prepare to swim with the best, or simply sink into a mire of mediocrity. But I somehow don’t think that we as South Africans know much about sinking... so I have every faith in thinking that we’ll swim with the best come 2016. To swim with the best though we’ll have to change the way we do things. It cannot simply be a question of “business as usual” when the rest of the world is professionalising sport. We are making great strides though and there is an awful amount of behind the scenes work that takes place to strive for constant improvement. Last year’s Paralympics fell outside the period of the last review and our 29 medals was just one down on Beijiing 2008. Apart from our established stars it was hugely encouraging to see new faces on the podium and here I’m thinking of athletes like Anruné Liebenberg and Dyan Buis who both won two medals in their first Paralympics. Along with the OPEX Programme that caters for prospective Olympic/Paralympic medallists, our National Coaching Framework is going to have a big part to play going forward and whenever I attend one of these coaching sessions it fills me with hope to see the passion and commitments from coaching personnel across the sporting spectrum. It’s people like these who are dedicating their lives selflessly to passing on sporting expertise that will make the difference. The SA National Defence Force, various universities and Provincial Acadamies have also all upped their contribution to our effort and will continue to do so. 55 6 And here I must also thank all my fellow SASCOC staff at Olympic House. From Chief Executive Officer Mr Tubby Reddy, first vice-president Ms Hajera Kajee, second vice-president Mr Les Williams to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board member Dr Sam Ramsamy right through to the entire SASCOC Board. It spoke volumes that the majority of the SASCOC Board were voted back for a second term in November. Clearly the many National Federations (NF’s) have confidence in the Board’s ability to take us forward for another four years. The fact that there were minimal changes means that the process of continuing to strive for sporting excellence goes ahead with the least amount of fuss. There are many other people who made our task easier in the year under review. They will be given other mentions in the pages of this annual report. On behalf of the Board I just want to thank them all, from the Honorable Minister of Sport, Mr Fikile Mbalula, the department of Sport and Recreation SA, the national Lotteries Board down to all the management teams and even the ladies who carry out the thankless tasks of doing things like making sure we get hot coffee and fresh water during our myriad meetings in the sporting set-up. Speaking of going forward though, the low light in this last period has been the time we have spent on disputes. I always seem to harp back on this topic but it is something that I cannot shy away from. It would seem that our message to the National Federations to get their various houses in order is simply not being heeded. We are having to spend an inordinate amount of time, energy (not to mention financial resources) dealing with disputes. I am of the opinion that one of the keys to dealing with all these challenges is to intensify our education programme. The code of athletics has been involved in a particularly drawn out and acrimonious affair. And we at SASCOC are often seen as the bully boys when what we are actually trying to do is steer the sport back on to the right track. It would seem that there are too many of us trying to hold on to positions when it is time to hand over the baton to the next willing person. But I think that, in time, we will also solve this problem. Apart from the Olympics and Paralympics, during the period of review there was another multi- code event, in the shape of the Zone VI Games in Lusaka, Zambia. Just as at the last version of these Games in Swaziland in 2010 there are many challenges that our young athletes face. For many its their first taste of competition outside our boundaries and is very much an eye-opening experience. But its events like this that first forge and later hone our young talent on the road to greatness. On a note of sadness there have been more losses to the sporting family and the most noteworthy of these was the tragic passing of our London Olympics mountain-biker Burry Stander in a road accident early in the New Year. His death was a huge blow to the South African sports fraternity and one that will felt for a long time to come. Many of our sportsmen and women have already dedicated, and will continue to dedicate, their sporting success to this young star and he will provide a powerful motivating factor as we embark on the Road to Rio 2016. At the time of this report we were busy working on team preparation for the World Games in Cali, Colombia where we were hoping to improve on the 2009 Games showing and our next big multicode event will be the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. It’s hard to believe that the New Delhi Games were three years ago already but that just goes to show how fast the world of sport is moving and that we as the custodians of South African sport cannot afford to fall even one step behind. 5 66 CEO’s Summary of Activities Mr Tubby Reddy One of the most intense challenges post the Olympics has been to divorce myself in an individual capacity from the Office of the Chief Executive.The Chief Executive is extremely proud to be associated with the efforts within SASCOC’s operational team with regards to our efforts between 2008 and the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. The (office) team behind the team was devoted and unfailing in delivery and sacrifice in going the extra mile. As a Chief Executive I have experienced the work ethic of the staff at SASCOC in preparing team South Africa for representation at various Games, which is just one function of many in their daily portfolios.The commitment of these many people to serving the sport is inspiring and also, in my capacity as the CEO, hugely appreciated. There is often a disregard for the daily efforts of the many employees who make up SASCOC. The shop window for SASCOC will always be the athletes’, and the public measurable will always be their performances at the major sporting events. I want to use this report as their most public platform – in addressing the Federations within SASCOC – to thank them personally. It has not been the easiest of environments in the last year. Here I refer to myself in an individual capacity and my reference to separating the function of the CEO and me in a personal capacity. There has been a sustained attack on my integrity from within a sector of the media. This has also extended to unsubstantiated attacks on the President and the Board. There has been gross misrepresentation within the media on various issues, particularly in relation to SASCOC’s responsibility in dealing with governance issues relating, in particular, to Athletics South Africa. The media coverage has been agenda based and it has resulted in media attacks on my persona and also my motives in serving SASCOC in the capacity of CEO. The relentless and malicious attacks forced the Board and myself to explore legal recourse and the issue is currently with the courts. SASCOC is the custodian of sport in South Africa and among the most profile issues will always be corporate governance within the respective Federations and within the SASCOC leadership.There is also a Constitution that binds all Federations and when this Constitution is not adhered to we are forced to act. I have been portrayed within the media as confrontational and destructive in my dealings with the Federations in the media spotlight, most notably ASA. I have been accused of seeking greater power within South African sport and of not acting in the best interests of sport. Nothing could be more inaccurate. It is and has never been about Tubby Reddy versus any Federation or individual within a Federation. My operational and work actions have been in keeping with the roles and responsibilities of my portfolio. It has been draining at times during the past year to constantly reiterate that this office has to ensure Corporate Governance issues within South African Sport and that SASCOC is not the enemy from within. There remains constant distortion within the media as to the function of SASCOC and the function of individual Federations. The education in this regard is ongoing and the misrepresentation is constantly challenged.I speak of the exhaustion and the drain I can also reflect on the achievements and on meeting targets and goals and in many cases exceeding expectation. There have been huge strides made since 2008 and there was an understanding, a representation and a reflection of the outstanding work done within the administration between the Beijing and London Olympics.The Federations, by way of re-election, acknowledged the efforts of the SASCOC leadership over the four-year cycle. But as our president, Mr Gideon Sam, continually stresses, the journey is an ongoing one, with no end point. The work does not end with each Olympic and Paralympic Games. Rio is not a final destination. There are many Games in which Team South Africa has representation during the four-year cycles and in August Team South Africa produced a gold medal through the Rugby Sevens at the World Games in Colombia.My thanks to the leadership of the South African Rugby Union for selecting a squad they believed capable of winning gold. It has been very pleasing to see the ongoing efforts of our two premier Olympics swimming champions in Cameron van der Burg and Chad le Clos, but it is very disheartening and frustrating that there is still such resistance from Corporate South Africa when it comes to investing in Olympic and Paralympic sporting codes and the individuals that bring hope to a nation because of their sporting endevours. 7 8 Sponsorship procurement remains a challenge and a battle, for SASCOC and for the individual athletes and many of our member Federations outside of the said big three of Football, Rugby and Cricket. SASCOC continues to develop our Operation Excellence Programme with elite athletes, but with greater corporate investment the rewards to athlete and to the country, in terms of performance at the biggest sporting events, would be greater. There are 40 Olympians and 34 Paralympians on the OPEX programme, with 18 athletes forging their way into the OPEX programme through performance at the London 2012 Summer Olympics/Paralympics. SASCOC has met with the 16 National Federations who form part of the Rio 2016 programme and there are ongoing discussions and resolutions as to how each of these Federations should be supported. The priority list, based on medal projections, includes: swimming, athletics, boxing, canoeing, cycling and rowing. Two new sports, rugby 7s and golf, will also be part of the Rio 2016 programme. There has also been an emphasis on coaching and coaching development within South African sport. The SASCOC National Coaching Conference, hosted at the Birchwood Hotel during November 2012, boasted 769 delegates and three working documents were launched at the Conference: Long term coach Development, SA Sport for Life and SA Academies Strategic Framework and Policy Guidelines. There have been advancements on the Coach Education Programme with several aspects having been action in the last calendar year. Funding – and the need for greater funding for our athletes – remains the challenge within SASCOC. This was discussed extensively at the SASCOC Board and Management Lekgotla earlier this year. Also discussed in detail at the Lekgotla were: Business Plan, Articles of Association, Sports Act, National Sport and Recreation Plan, Transformation Charter, the roles and responsibilities of SASCOC Board Members, Commissions and their terms of reference, Team South Africa’s ongoing preparation, with a focus on Operation Excellence, selection policy, Games MOU, Scientific & Medical Policy, the National Academy System, the Coach’s Development, the SASCOC Bursary scheme, Olympic Solidarity, SASCOC membership and the recognition criteria, national colours regulation and application, bidding and hosting and the strategy document regarding any bidding and hosting for and of events. Others aspects covered at the Lekgotla were IOC Projects and Awards, Disputes Resolution Mechanism, Policy and Procedure, specifically regarding Investment Policy, HR Policy and IT Policy.It has been a rewarding year on many levels, despite the personal drain on myself, the President, Board Members and many within SASCOC. A year ago, in my CEO’s communication, I closed with the following: ‘We need the following role players to make a concerted effort in securing the necessary resources for the development of Sport from talent identification to excellence at world level culminating in the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Therefore we appeal to His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, the Honorable Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, the Honorable Minister of Sport and Recreation Fikile Mbalula and the Captains of Industry from the Corporate World to inject the necessary resources into Sport thereby helping to build the Nation through sporting excellence on the field of play. Further the National Lottery must allocate funds to SASCOC as a beneficiary of the LOTTO funds directly from the percentage funding allocated for sport.’ The closure remains applicable to now and on the journey to Rio 2016 and beyond. Yours, in the name of South African sport Tubby Reddy SASCOC CEO 7 8