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Sascoc welcomes R70m Rio boost

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ASSURED Sascoc president Gideon Sam is grateful that the cash injection arrived in time for the team to go to the Olympics next month. Picture: Allan James
ASSURED Sascoc president Gideon Sam is grateful that the cash injection arrived in time for the team to go to the Olympics next month. Picture: Allan James

The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) has hailed its R70 million backing by the National Lotteries Commission, saying the sponsorship has not come too late.

The much-awaited financial injection was announced this week and will address athletes’ requirements in the lead-up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, taking place from August 5 to 21.

But Sascoc president Gideon Sam dismissed the notion that the Olympic body got the boost too late, with only a month to go before the showdown.

“The money did not come late because, as a nongovernment organisation, we have to apply for funds and the sponsors relook at what we apply for. This is a process,” said Sam.

The Sascoc president went on to say that the cash came as sponsorship for the Olympics and would go towards transport costs for, and preparation by, the athletes making up Team SA.

He admitted that the organisation had come under financial strain, but these funds would enable it to meet its obligations for Rio.

“As Sascoc, we were beginning to panic as we were not sure about the funding. I am happy now that we can safely say we are going to Rio,” he said.

Sam said part of the money would also be used for the Paralympic Games and the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Games, to be held in Luanda, Angola, from December 9 to 18.

“The lotteries commission has been giving funds for years. Their Operation Excellence programme is working because they have been helping us,” he said.

Sam could not disclose how individual medallists would be rewarded for their efforts in Rio.

“We are going to put the money in the pot. By July 14, a final Olympic team selection will be made and announced.”

Four years ago, Sascoc offered Olympic and Paralympic athletes R400 000 for a gold medal, while silver and bronze medallists got R200 000 and R80 000, respectively.

Sam said a Sascoc team for the Paralympic Games in Rio would be announced tomorrow. The Games will run from September 7 to 18.

This is the second sponsorship deal that Sascoc has bagged in five weeks. Telkom splashed out on R8 million for the organisation – half of which will go towards the medal incentive and a portion being used to prepare the Olympic team.

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